Reading in Panamá




Everyday in the campo, I am reminded of things that I take for granted back home. Life isn't so east here. For example, this morning I walked out my door into the overcast, rainy, and cold outdoors to take my freezing cold, mountain water shower. In the states, that is only something I consider doing when camping (and even then, I may object). But you get used to that stuff (kinda) here. One thing I cannot get used to though. It keeps bothering me and driving me crazy. It's the reading level of the people in my community.

I work a lot in the primary school here, so I have a good understanding of the education system in Panama. In Kintergarden, they teach kids the vowels. In first grade, the alphabet. Then in second grade they are expected to be reading. But the things is, many of the kids don't. (Dare I say most?) In my third and fourth grade classes, it is very frustrating to hear the kids struggle through common words, such as "where" and "city." Do I read the worksheet for them or hope they can do it themselves? Ugh.

But the problem isn't just a result of the school system. It's also a part of their culture. The only book that most Panamanians own, if they own any, is the bible. And they're not the religious type that actually read the bible, either. They don't even sell newspapers where I live. So most people are not reading at home and kids never get read to when they are growing up. That was a huge part of my childhood, reading with my parents. Going to story hour at the library. Reading the next chapter of the Boxcar series in class. But there's none of that here.



One project I started here is a reading circle. We would read books, color, and play games for a few hours a couple times a week. Although I told people it was for kids age 5-10, toddlers came, teens, and even adults to read the story books I brought with me each time. One 17 year old kids kept reading a book about counting kisses (meant to read to your baby) over and over. I nearly lost it to him. It was amazing to see how excited everyone got over the books and reading together.



So one of the many, valuable lessons I will take home to the States with me is this: Having books and learning to read is a privilege. Having books around the house is an even greater gift. We're lucky that reading is a part of our culture and that we have so much access to good books in the house, at the library, online, at the book store... And reading does so much more than let kids read a storybook. It increases their confidence and makes their imaginations more vivid, which leads to creativity and the ability to see beyond what's right in front of you. And that leads to critical thinking. Reading is an invaluable and very necessary skill.

And with that, I think I'll get in my hammock and read for a bit. :)