MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Faced with data that boys, especially, are not doing well at the Grade Four Literacy Test, the Manchester Parish Library Network has undertaken a programme to promote reading in some of the worse performing schools in the parish.

It hosts an annual Boys’ Reading Day, in addition to monthly interactive sessions in individual schools.

“Boys, especially, are not doing well in the grade four literacy exam. Boys learn differently from girls and that’s important for teachers to understand and be a little more creative…,” regional director for the library network Lorraine McLean said.

Though still a work in progress, McLean said there have been positive results since the inception of the Boys’ Reading Day, which began at the St Ann Parish Library in 2007 and was introduced to the Manchester Parish Library a year later.

Participating schools include Porus, Zion Hill, Mile Gully, Broad Leaf, Marlie Hill, Bellefield, Huntley and Richmond primary schools.

At the most recent staging of the event at the Cecil Charlton Hall in Mandeville, boys presented poems that reflected the day’s theme — ‘Reading is a Man Ting: Do you agree?’. They also listened to motivational talks and played games geared towards promoting reading.

Staying true to the theme, head of the Area Three Police (Manchester, Clarendon and St Elizabeth) Derrick Knight sought to bring home the point that reading is a critical component of being responsible men.

Knight, a father of three children, started out by reading aloud a section of the book Naughty Eddie Larue.

“Whatever you want to be, work hard at it and read, read, read. Knowledge is wealth,” Knight told the children.

Emphasising the importance of proper guidance for boys and young men, Knight cited a recent survey showing that many of those in jail are in the 10-25 age group.

He related personal tales of his humble childhood in Highgate, St Mary, and of his growth in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He presented himself as a role model and urged the boys to not only strive to read well, but to also make a positive impact on their communities.

He warned, however, against using knowledge and education to commit crimes.

“You have good readers that get in crimes like fraud. Don’t go for the easy road,” he cautioned.

The students also benefitted from the experience of Larone Reid, a student of Holmwood Technical High School who said that he was barely able to read when he started his secondary education. As a result of that limitation, he said, he was placed in a special unit at the school.

“I started the programme at Holmwood at a grade-two level. After a year passed I really took the reading seriously. Eventually, I moved up to grade eight (level) and moved from the special unit… to the main school,” he said.

Reid said not only did his academics improve over time, but his conduct and attire changed as well, and he attained the leadership position of prefect.

Other schools which form part of the annual Reading Day, McLean said, are from the areas with branch libraries within the Manchester Parish Library Network.

Boys’ Reading Day

9288: Reid said that when his reading improved, his conduct and attire changed for the better. (PHOTOS: GREGORY BENNETT)

9295: Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for the Area 3 Police Division Derrick Knight (front left) reads to grade four boys at a recent Boys’ Reading Day hosted by the Manchester Parish Library Network. To his right are members of the Manchester Parish Library Network Lorraine McLean and Shawn Simpson.

9324: Poetry is one of the creative strategies being used in the schools to assist grade four boys in particular to become better readers. Seen here are students of Porus Primary School performing on Boys’ Reading Day.

9345: Regional Director for the Manchester Parish Library Network Lorraine McLean engaging some of the boys in a word game at the recent Boys’ Reading Day function hosted by her organisation.