http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/14/100-greatest-non-fiction-books
The Guardian have just published a list of the top 100 greatest non-fiction books. I've read a pitifully small amount of them, only 10 so far. I have a trip to Tasmania coming up in the next few weeks, I'll have to visit my local library and make sure some of those books are on my holiday reading list and hopefully I can knock a few more off.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
3/10 UK children without books
Here's the article I just read that got me thinking:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/01/three-in-10-uk-children-own-no-books?CMP=twt_fd
While this is a UK article, I suspect that Australian figures would be very similar. We don't have the same problem with public library closures, however I've certainly been in many schools that don't have a librarian/teacher librarian/education assistant librarian/anyone working in the library and library time is not a priority in a busy timetable. Science and SOSE (Studies of Society and Environment) are also not given priority but that's a discussion for another time.Without books in the home, without role models in the home reading, without school staff promoting reading and selecting great books to fill school libraries - how do we expect children to value reading?
I suspect that in our increasingly technological world people doubt the need for books and certainly literacy doesn't solely mean book literate. But exposure to books and a variety of reading materials and genres increases opportunities for literacy, why limit those opportunities? Access to information on the internet requires the ability to read and critically evaluate whether the information is coming from a viable source, or just some random ranting about their favourite topic without any supporting evidence or views for that information. Plus reading books is just good fun.
The link between books in the home and literacy makes me feel much better about filling my nephew's room with books and since Borders Australia is shutting up shop and has a sale on, I'm off to fill the rest of my sister's house with books.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jun/01/three-in-10-uk-children-own-no-books?CMP=twt_fd
While this is a UK article, I suspect that Australian figures would be very similar. We don't have the same problem with public library closures, however I've certainly been in many schools that don't have a librarian/teacher librarian/education assistant librarian/anyone working in the library and library time is not a priority in a busy timetable. Science and SOSE (Studies of Society and Environment) are also not given priority but that's a discussion for another time.Without books in the home, without role models in the home reading, without school staff promoting reading and selecting great books to fill school libraries - how do we expect children to value reading?
I suspect that in our increasingly technological world people doubt the need for books and certainly literacy doesn't solely mean book literate. But exposure to books and a variety of reading materials and genres increases opportunities for literacy, why limit those opportunities? Access to information on the internet requires the ability to read and critically evaluate whether the information is coming from a viable source, or just some random ranting about their favourite topic without any supporting evidence or views for that information. Plus reading books is just good fun.
The link between books in the home and literacy makes me feel much better about filling my nephew's room with books and since Borders Australia is shutting up shop and has a sale on, I'm off to fill the rest of my sister's house with books.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Start them young.
I spent an enjoyable day yesterday in the company of family including my 15month old nephew. The best part of my day? My sister commenting that he's starting to pull books off his bookshelf to be read to him. I'm delighted that he's enjoying books at such a young age (and hope that continues), and I'm delighted that my sister is taking the time to read to him. I suspect my sister has read more books since her son's birth than she did through school and since I can't seem to walk past any supplier of children's literature without buying another bag full of books for my nephew, she's not going to be running out of reading material any time soon.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Bored and Blogging
An exciting entry to the blogosphere. Do I have any scintillating commentary on current issues that I'm burning to publish for the interwebs community? No. Well, I do have a number of views on a number of issues that the world may be the better for hearing/reading - but in all honestly, I'm simply sick, tired, unable to sleep and a little bored. I read many blogs but never manage to keep one going myself. We'll see how long this one lasts...
Why L-Space? Aside from a love of Terry Pratchett novels, books have been a constant companion throughout my life and I'm currently considering a change of career to become a librarian. I think that many of the problems around the world today would be solved using the equation - Books = Knowledge = Power.(Extrapolated Discworld version here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-Space#L-space) Education is the solution. Critical thinking, reason, empathy, an ability to see the big picture and benefits for the community into the future rather then immediate personal gratification.
Enough. In my first post I don't want to get started raving about the truth of 'Idiocracy'. Instead I shall publish, put on an audio book read by Stephen Fry and partake in a past-time that is lacking these days - listening to Story Time. Forgotten pleasures from childhood - lying in bed and being read to sleep...
On a side note as I edit for publishing - Blogger doesn't recognise the word 'blogs' or 'blogosphere' in its dictionary. Am I the only one that finds that interesting?
Why L-Space? Aside from a love of Terry Pratchett novels, books have been a constant companion throughout my life and I'm currently considering a change of career to become a librarian. I think that many of the problems around the world today would be solved using the equation - Books = Knowledge = Power.(Extrapolated Discworld version here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-Space#L-space) Education is the solution. Critical thinking, reason, empathy, an ability to see the big picture and benefits for the community into the future rather then immediate personal gratification.
Enough. In my first post I don't want to get started raving about the truth of 'Idiocracy'. Instead I shall publish, put on an audio book read by Stephen Fry and partake in a past-time that is lacking these days - listening to Story Time. Forgotten pleasures from childhood - lying in bed and being read to sleep...
On a side note as I edit for publishing - Blogger doesn't recognise the word 'blogs' or 'blogosphere' in its dictionary. Am I the only one that finds that interesting?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)