What are the books you enjoyed most reading?
At Rosmead Primary School I was introduced to the world of books by Mrs Joyce Parker, a teacher who set me on the path of loving books. I owe my career as a teacher to her and I dedicate this article to her. I remember the phrase which I often cited to my pupils – “read the word to read the world”.
How Mrs Parker drilled this phrase into my head I do not know, but it has served me well. She introduced me to authors who have stood the test of time.
Today we often are told that learners do not have a long attention span and therefore our talking in class must be limited and writing minimal.
The world says students learn more visually than listening to words. I belong to an organisation, the Teachers’ League of South Africa (TLSA), formed in 1913 and serve on its journal committee. The writers of articles in this journal include people like RO Dudley, Ben Kies – his seminal work The Contribution of the Non-European Peoples to World Civilisation – Ivan Abrahams, Norman Abrahams, Helen Kies, N Alexander and IB Tabata.
At TLSA meetings we were taught to express our views in our own style of writing and were never told to be brief.
Why are we teaching people to read less? Is it that we can control their minds? That is why I continue to buy three reputable morning newspapers including the Cape Argus and not the daily “gossip” newspapers. Yes, by all means read digitally, but for easy referencing, print copy is best.
I was fortunate to have many high school teachers who recommended a wide range of reading material.
Fred Coker, that brilliant biology teacher in Cape Town who introduced us to the book Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson, and Scientific American established in 1845.
Richard Rive was a great South African writer who influenced thousands of teachers when he lectured at Hewat Training College. Sadly, education authorities closed teacher training colleges in 1998. Hewat produced teachers who went on to make sterling contributions to education in South Africa and the world.
I was fortunate to have an Afrikaans teacher, Ferdie Groenewald, who introduced us to writers such as Alex La Guma. Our Latin teacher, Mr Waxie Daniels, introduced us to Greek and Roman writers.
As a teacher I was introduced to works by great writers in isiXhosa by Thozana Yawa, a colleague who promoted isiXhosa at the high school where I taught. She recently received an award from the Western Cape government for her contribution to isiXhosa literature. Many medical students she taught were able to easily communicate with their patients in isiXhosa.
The world would be a better place if reading was appreciated and promoted by everybody. If we lower our standards because it makes it easier for our students we actually do them a disservice. They will eventually become subservient to those who can read and who can manipulate their thoughts.
I wish for a world where people are highly literate. A world in which we place an emphasis on reading and students and adults reading widely on many subjects.
A world where all of us can enjoy the fruits of a well-read and educated society. The elite sometimes ask our students “why educate yourselves when there are no jobs for you?”.
I would rather be a jobless educated person who can think critically about the world. Do not be fooled by people who want to control you. Reading makes you a critical person who can decide for themselves and be their own person.
In my case it has taught me to fight on the side of the oppressed. Richard Rive alluded to the fact that reading is all that matters.
* Brian Isaacs obtained a BSc (UWC) in 1975, a Secondary Teacher’s Diploma in 1976, BEd (UWC) in 1981, and MEd (UWC) in 1992. He is a former matriculant, teacher and principal at South Peninsula High School.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
Cape Argus
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