Poetry Reading Day In Primary Schools October 31
A new event has been added to this year???s Education Month calendar.
It is Poetry Reading Day which will be held at all primary schools across the island on Thursday, October 31 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
According to a spokesman for the Education Month Planning Commitee, the rationale for having a Poetry Day in primary schools is ???to re-create an awareness of the teaching and study of poetry???.
It is anticipated that this exercise will stimulate interest in the writing of poetry. It is also hoped that the significance of poetry to the value of literacy in general will be appreciated and the development of critical thinking skills promoted.
???As Barbados pursues its goal of developing a cultural industry, an understanding of the skills in poetry-writing and interpretation – will assist in the development of our budding dramatists, playwrights and composers. In this way, the love of poetry writing, reading and dramatisation will be further strengthened,??? said the committee member.
The Poetry Day is also being used as a catalyst towards promoting interest in the teaching of poetry; the writing and reading of poetry, particularly oral speech (Drama). It also aims to foster within students, the love of poetry from an early age.
The programme will see pupils reading poems of their choice; those which they have authored as well as reciting poems/nursery rhymes for enjoyment before an audience ??? either in the classroom or during school assembly. Children will be called upon to dramatise their own compositions as well as to display their favourite poems in a space created and known as A Poets??? Corner.
Children and their teachers will also read poems with specific themes and create rhythm poetry, calypso or rap.
Deputy Chief Education Officer, Dr. Patricia Saul, and Education Officer and Coordinator of Education Month, Petrona Holder, will participate in the Poetry Reading session at Bay Primary School, Bayville, St. Michael. It starts at 10:00 a.m.
OAS Workshop on Education For Democratic Values And Practices
Over 100 teachers from primary and secondary private and public schools will next week participate in an Organization of American States (OAS) two-day workshop that will focus on Education for Democratic Citizenship.
The OAS, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, will host two two-day workshops from Tuesday, October 29 to Friday, November 1.
The opening ceremony will be held in the Main Conference Room of the Ministry at the Elsie Payne Complex, Constitution Road, on Tuesday, October 29, starting at 9:00 a.m.
Chief Education Officer, Laurie King and Coordinator of the workshop, Office of Education and Culture OAS Washington, D.C, Romina Kasman will deliver remarks.
In 2005, The Inter-American Programme on Education for Democratic Values and Practices was adopted by Ministers of Education at their IV Inter-American Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.
Its main objective is to develop and strengthen a culture of democracy in the Americas through formal and non-formal education.
The programme contributes to strengthening human capital and building institutional capacities of public, private, and civil society institutions in OAS member states to develop policies, programmes and initiatives in the field of education for democratic citizenship.
joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb