|
|
Post by housesparrow on Dec 26, 2010 8:31:22 GMT
I always thought that giving away free books to babies and children was a waste of money, if not patronising. If parents value books they will buy them, ask for them as presents or borrow them from the library. Either way, half the fun is choosing them yourself. If they don't, the books probably get left lying around or discarded. But the ending of the scheme has come under fire, and I wonder if there was some value in it after all. Hw will we know? www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12079784 |
|
|
|
Post by Patrick on Dec 26, 2010 9:50:35 GMT
As it was only founded in 1992 I suppose someone spotted a gap that needed filling. (I tried to think at first if it had been around for years). They may still survive through other grant schemes, but you do wonder - when there are libraries - why or how it does exist?
|
|
|
|
Post by jean on Dec 26, 2010 9:58:27 GMT
If parents value books they will buy them, ask for them as presents or borrow them from the library. We do know that children from homes where adults value books do better at school than those from homes where thy don't. We will never know for certain how far such interventions as this can be successful at turning one sort of adult innto the other, but I don't think we should stop trying. (The cynical will suggest that the children's authors object because they're going to lose royalties.) |
|
|
|
Post by housesparrow on Dec 26, 2010 11:36:36 GMT
We do know that children from homes where adults value books do better at school than those from homes where thy don't. Do you think that foisting a book package onto a family will make them value books, though? It might do just the opposite; no-one likes to be told how to think and feel about things. Older children are allowed to choose their free books, and perhaps parents shuld be allowed to do the same. As I understand it, the new born child is given a package of pre-chosen free books. That would have irritated me a little I think. Why not give the parents a token, redeemable at the local library, which would keep a selection of new books they could pick from? The mums and dads would then see what goes on for children in libraries. |
|
|
|
Post by jean on Dec 26, 2010 11:51:01 GMT
I am sure it would have irritated you, housey, but you would never have been the sort of parent for whom this sort of thing was intended.
Foist is a loaded word, and is not necessarily how this would be perceived by the recipient.
You can get children into libraries - did anyone see the wonderful programme where Michael Rosen did just that? - and of course if parents are actually prepared to go to a library themselves, tokens would be fine. But they won't work if that initial step has not been taken.
|
|
|
|
Post by housesparrow on Dec 26, 2010 13:10:05 GMT
Can any of us resist the offer of something for nothing? Don't you think parents getting a "free book" token would want to cash it in?
Well, I suppose there is only one way to find out, and that is to ask the families who got the books whether they appreciated them, and by seeing if children's reading has improved.
|
|
|
|
Post by everso on Dec 27, 2010 12:36:12 GMT
Sorry, but I really don't think that giving books away to children should be top of the list. If this country is in such a financial state as we're told it is, then surely this kind of giveaway could be dropped. We have libraries, for goodness sake. I love the fact that I can troll along to my local library and get the pick of what ever I want to read (or, if it's not there, order it) and it doesn't cost me a penny.
It's lovely to own certain books and, as Housey said, parents can ask for books as gifts at birthday or Christmas time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Alpha Hooligan on Dec 27, 2010 17:37:50 GMT
Any child with an interest in reading can get books for pennies...sometimes for free or even loan them.
I do think children should be encouraged to read if they are interested, but the government never gave me any free books and I still managed to get my paws on plenty...they aren't exactly a preserve of the rich or some kind of expensive rarity/luxury.
AH
|
|
|
|
Post by housesparrow on Dec 27, 2010 19:26:53 GMT
The idea f curse is to get children interested in reading, when they come from families with no books. A great idea...but I just don't know if it works.
|
|
