Dear Editor,
I write in response to the report about the Guyana Pacific (Atlantic) Reader that was published to help youngsters with reading. I laud the effort of the Ministry of Education (the staff and Minister) for attempting to publish a book on reading to help kids master the art of reading. There are adverse reactions to the book on social media as well in the Guyana papers claiming that it marginalizes sections (ethnic groups) of the society. It brings back memories of a failed education policy during the dictatorship that marginalized and discriminated against ethnic groups. I do not think it is/was the intention of the writers and or editors of the Reader or the Ministry to marginalize any group or under-represent any culture. During the period when I went to government school, right after independence, an alien ‘culture’ was foisted on students who could not relate to it. Imperial British or white culture was considered great during colonial period and we were forced to imbibe it. British culture was replaced with a dominant Creole culture (from the Caribbean Readers) of the group that ran the government, immediately after Independence, and we were forced to imbibe it. Indian culture was marginalized. Creole culture was considered best for the country although it led to alienation and marginalization of Indians and Amerindians, both of whom rejected it. Protests and objections did not lead to change.
To counter the dominant Creole culture, Indian culture was imparted in private after school sessions in mandirs and masjids. In government schools, we were forced to mimic a cultural perspective and to read stories and novels completely alien to us, especially in rural neighborhoods. At one time, we were forced to salute the comrade leader’s portrait and the flag of his party every morning and to say the National Pledge and sing the National Anthem. And when they were
resisted in the private schools, opponents were victimized, teachers and headmasters or senior officers transferred or terminated. Burnham nationalized all private schools, forcing his one culture (Creole with nothing Indian or Amerindian) policy on all. The government forced us to sing Creole folk songs and read Creole folk stories and poems that had no relationship or connections with Indians. I remember as children, encouraged by adults, we ridiculed the Creole songs, poems, stories. We were also forced to sing the National Anthem and say the Pledge. That policy of forced alien culture on people changed with the restoration of democracy post 1992. An alien culture was no longer foisted on any group and cultural diffusion occurred naturally to those wishing to embrace the cultures of other groups. Government must be careful in its education policy not to bring back bad memories of the discredited educational policy of an authoritarian era. In the effort to teach reading, which must be mandatory in all early grades, especially in the selection of books and reading materials, the Ministry of Education must be sensitive in its choice so as not to alienate or marginalize the varied groups in our multi-cultural society. Whatever is presented in any book must be accurate and a true reflection of society. However, it is inevitable or natural that whoever writes a book, does so from his or her own bias of cultural upbringing and understanding of life in the society.
To avoid such bias, it is critical to have representatives of all the cultures in preparing a Readers’ Book for children or adults that is produced by the Ministry of Education. Teaching reading comprehension, texts must accurately reflect the cultures of the varied groups. Differences in cultural background cannot be papered over. Reading materials must accurately reflect students’ or the population’s cultural beliefs, behaviours, and experiences to enhance students’ reading and comprehension ability of the materials that they read in classroom. The materials must give the students the opportunity to foster appreciation of their culture and the cultures of others and be proud of their own. The Ministry should recall the Readers text and start over inviting reading specialists and experts in the varied cultures to prepare a text that would accurately reflect the culture, civilization, presence of our various peoples without alienating or marginalizing any group.
Sincerely,
Vishnu Bisram
