Speeches

Literacy and the Volunteer Reading Program

By Ambassador John D. Rood

At the meeting of the Rotary Club of West Nassau
August 31, 2006, 12:30 p.m.

I love kids.  I love their spirit, the purity of their kindness, and their limitless potential. 
And the more time I spend around them, I see only two things that kids need to fulfill their potential:  They need caring adults to love and support them and help them make good decisions and they need a good education.

In January 2005, shortly after my arrival in The Bahamas, I started the Embassy Volunteer Reading Program.  Each Wednesday during the school year, we bring about 10 volunteers to Woodcock Primary School to read to children and promote literacy.  I’m able to make it to the program about once a month – and I tell you my time there has been the highlight of my time in The Bahamas.

To try to build on the reading program, I’ve also traveled to many of the family islands to deliver library books and to read to kids there, too.  In the next few months, I’ve got trips planned to Mayauana, Cat Island and Long Island.  I’ve started visiting other elementary schools in Nassau each month also, and will be heading to Adelaide Primary in September, Albury Sayle in October and Sawyer Primary in November.

People wonder why I spend so much of my time on reading to kids.  Part of it is selfish – I am renewed by the energy and enthusiasm of the children I speak to, and their purity gives me hope in a sometimes impure world.  Part of it is my feeling that the Embassy Reading Program, in its own small way, helps give kids the two things they need – caring adults and a good education.

But I also see education as vital to my role as Ambassador, and to international efforts to spread freedom and democracy.  You see, education helps freedom thrive. Citizens who are educated can choose for themselves, make up their own minds, and assume their responsibilities as citizens. As Laura Bush has said, “Education can help children see beyond a world of hate and hopelessness to one of unlimited opportunity. Education helps free the mind from ignorance and bigotry.  Education unleashes the creative contributions of every citizen, to improve their own lives and to build the common good. Education benefits all, and education should be available to all.”

As I look at education in The Bahamas, I see a lot of things that are right.  Embassy children go to school here – and they are getting a great education.  I see government workers who care.  I see talented teachers and principals.  I see the young men and women at the schools that I visit – and they are impressive.

I tell you, the speaking ability of these elementary school children!  At my 4th of July party this year, I invited a young lady to emcee the event -- Nikita Smith, a 5th grader at Sadie Curtis Primary School.  This 5th grader was dazzling – she stole the show.  Clearly, your education system is doing something right to produce kids like her.

But the future of your economy, and of jobs for your children, lie in continued improvements to the education system.  I stand before you today not only as the representative of The Bahamas’ largest trading partner, but also as a businessman who hears daily from the business community about the challenges they are facing in continuing to create jobs and economic activity that will create The Bahamas of tomorrow.

And The Bahamas of tomorrow is one that has a diversified economy protected from the ups and downs of the tourist market -- based upon knowledge with an understanding of a globalized economy.  As the 21st century of globalization and technology comes upon us, all countries must act to prepare children for the 21st century workplace.  Nations must seek innovative partnerships with technology firms, to computerize schools and provide new technical opportunities. Educators must ensure that all children will have the skills they need to be part of the IT revolution and to find jobs in the marketplace.

To help address the future of education, we’ve been working with the State of Florida to establish the Florida-Bahamas Classroom Connections program.  The program, still in its infancy, will promote e-learning through connections between students and teachers in our two countries.  We have planned web-sites, e-mail exchanges, podcasts, and other exciting exchanges using technology training as a core principle.  Woodcock is a partner school, as are S.C. McPherson Junior High and C.I. Gibson Senior High.  While the program is just getting off the ground, we’ve already had success in exchanges of videos and the installation of needed technology in the local schools.

I know there has been ongoing discussion about the poor test scores for Bahamian schools.  When I visit schools, while I see talented students like Nikita, I also see kids who need love and need encouragement to read – encouragement that they may not be getting at home.  That is why I launched my reading program and why I hope other people, or businesses, or local clubs, will join in similar programs with kids to promote reading.  Outside of my beloved Woodcock, there are dozens of schools that need attention.     

So I finish today with a challenge for each and every one of you, and a challenge for the Rotary Club of West Nassau.

First, I challenge you individually to join me in my reading program.  Come as my guest and serve as a reader.  Call my office, ask to speak with Katherine Gibson, who helps coordinate the program, and join me in reading to children.  We go to Woodcock Primary every Wednesday from 12:45-1:15, starting September 13.

Second, I challenge you as a club to start a reading program at a local elementary school.

I am serious about this challenge.  We measure our success at the Embassy like a private business does.  We set goals, we measure our progress toward completion of those goals, and we hold ourselves accountable.  This year, we added a new goal – one of only seven goals the United States has in The Bahamas - to help improve education and promote literacy.  And one of the ways we are measuring our progress is by how far we can expand our primary reading program.  We need sponsors to take on other schools, just as we have taken on Woodcock primary.

By going into the schools, you will see all that is right there.  You will see the dedicated teachers and principals and the amazing kids.  And you will see first hand what is needed to make education in The Bahamas competitive for the 21st Century.  But for now, I ask only that you read to students – once a week – at a school of your choice.

If you do this, you will have shown children the love and support they need to succeed, and you will help give them a good education.   And if you do this, and I promise you, you will yourself receive gifts of innocence and hope from the wonderful children of The Bahamas.

 

Thank you.