Readers ‘under a cloud’

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 2

Readers ‘under a cloud’

<.\ Z. Press .AssocjafHW) HAMILTON. Criticisms of the books used to (each reading in New Zealand primary schools have prompted the Department of Education to consider replacing them. The Director-General of Education (Mr W. L. Renwick) said yesterday that the books had been “under a cloud" for some time, and the department was considering the possibility of change. Mr Renwick was in Hamilton to open the sixth national congress of the International Reading Association. The “Ready to Read”

series of books was introduced 15 years ago, with emphasis on reading for meaning. But it has come under fire from various quarters, particularly because of the way it handles the role of women in society. Emphasis is put on activities intended to captivate the interests of boys, “with girls and mothers forming an admiring audience.” This had been done because of the disproportionate number of boys who did not take easily to reading. “While the series does not place girls at a disadvantage in learning to

read, the role of women portrayed could damage the self-concept of girls,” Mr Renwick said.

Apart from the issue of sex stereotyping, there were fundamental questions that prompted a review.

“Fifteen years ago, it. was essential that such a series be developed as the skeleton of a reading scheme,” said Mr Renwick.

“But we should now consider a shift of emphasis towards the development of packages of materials to assist teachers to integrate the teaching of reading into a

broader programme for the development of thought and language in all its aspects,” he said.

The greatest developments had taken place in the teaching of reading to beginners, but steps were now being taken to remedy the reading problems of pupils in Forms I to IV.

These would consist of a survey into the strengths and needs of reading in this area; a trial programme in pilot schools; and an extensive training programme for teachers.

The project would take three years.