tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6025352266076145189.post5141961591052597223..comments2024-02-21T16:09:18.285-08:00Comments on Beyond the Marog Kingdom: Reading to Children - A Non-eventHelenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743130026557678304noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6025352266076145189.post-65482564213542723372012-02-26T18:36:06.887-08:002012-02-26T18:36:06.887-08:00Thanks Natalie. Perhaps I hadn't made it clear...Thanks Natalie. Perhaps I hadn't made it clear, the programme was for parents with young children (2-5 I would think) but the point you make about time is a valid one. I wouldn't be so harsh as to say they don't like children as persons, as St James Parish Library puts on a lot of activities for them. I'm sure you're aware of the reading competition. I hope next month I'll have something more positive to report.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16743130026557678304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6025352266076145189.post-71528971034750100822012-02-26T14:08:54.614-08:002012-02-26T14:08:54.614-08:00I'm glad that you participated. How many peop...I'm glad that you participated. How many people actually showed up for the event?<br /><br />It's just so aggravating to hear about situations like this. Frankly, there's NO justification for creating a children's program the central library on a SATURDAY MORNING in JAMAICA. If someone from another country and who had no clue about Jamaican culture organised that event, I could understand the clear lack of thought. However, I would still ask why didn't they find out how Jamaicans, and particularly people in St. James, usually spend their time on a Saturday morning.<br /><br />And for the library to choose this as the best time to do it since they were "not as busy" then? You're kidding, right? Because I want to know who thinks that way if you're trying to reach children and bring them into the space?? That says something about how they think about children too - as a problem, a distraction and more work - not the central focus of their jobs.<br /><br />If people don't read, then what is the use of creating flyers as the only way to draw people? Do we not already know this? In a place where paper is scarce, flyers easily become writing and drawing pads!<br /><br />If you want to reach people who don't read, then there has to be less disdain and more respect directed at them. If one begins with the attitude that "they won't come anyway" and "they're not interested" then the effort and the thought that goes into such work will be minimal at best.<br /><br />If any of these government-sponsored programs are to have the intended effect and not just be colossal waste of money, they will need to hire new people who *believe* in the programs, who can think creatively, and who actually want the work to have an impact. The librarians at the parish library don't know how to BE librarians; and I say this from my own experiences there. And I'm definitely not convinced that they actually like children as persons.Nataliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05974754968045758692noreply@blogger.com