Diversity in Reading Materials is Crucial

Diversity in Reading Materials is Crucial

             Last night on our CBC National News, there was a small spot given to a young teenager who declared that she loved to read. But there was a problem for this Grade 8 girl.  She could not find any books reflecting her reality in the school library.  She pointed out that the library was lovely and colourful and had a great collection of books. BUT, there just wasn’t much there for someone like her.  So she started donating books on her own, from her own money, buying them, reading them, and then giving then to the library to be put into circulation. The initiative caught fire and now there are others making contributions to help the cause.  

 

          Then, today, included in a newsletter mailing that came to my inbox from the Retired Teachers of Ontario was a little piece about looking at books reflecting diversity of all kinds to use as reading materials for grandchildren.  The news item included a list of books on several different topics that would make a good place to start looking.  This time though the pitch was to expose young listeners to diversity through the choices we make of books to read to those we love.

 

I have long advocated for this idea not just online but also when I taught pre-service candidates my course on literacy.  In case this is the first time you are hearing of this idea, it is all about inculcating in the youngest of our students and facilitating in older students, an understanding and awareness of those who are different in their religious, family, ethnic, or sexual circumstances.  Not everyone lives in a white, two parent household, where both parents are educated and working.  There are children who are living with a single parent, or two fathers, or worship at a mosque or synagogue, or came to these shores as a result of persecution or danger at home.  

 

         We in Canada are beginning from a different point than our neighbours to the south. We have always been a multi-cultural society, and, in fact, we have institutionalized multi-culturalism as a fact in law. However, that fact has not always been put into practice on the ground. We still know that persecution, discrimination and so forth are prevalent in our society. The only way we can combat those forces is through education and that included enabling access to reading materials, hearing stories, discussing and mixing with people of all varieties and circumstances.  We must use every tool in our collective kitbags to provide a welcome to the stranger and enable everyone to hold their head up high and feel like they belong and are cherished.  Nothing is more important to our future success and harmony.