New publications aim at young readers
With all the hype about computers in the classroom, education via the internet and on-line libraries, you’d think that books have become obsolete. Don’t start the funeral yet, however, as this morning News 5’s Jacqueline Woods found the rumours of their death have been greatly exaggerated.
Lascelle Arnold, Businessman
“For a long time we profiled a lot of foreign athletes and foreign dignitaries and presidents and other people from around the world. I think it’s about time and overdue that we start to profile our own Belizeans.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Well known businessman, Lascelle Arnold is just one of the twenty-eight Belizean men and women profiled in the latest publications by the National Library Service. The booklets, “Pillars” and “Fathers of Belize” feature a host of local personalities from all walks of life who have been contributing to the development of the country. As you read through the pages of the books, you not only learn of the achievements by figures like Horace Young, Leopold Balderamos, Joan Burrel and Henrietta Gill but the books also promote the concept of local literature.
Charles Hyde, Chairman, National Library Service
“Well we hope to have the society more cognizant, that we do have a cultural heritage, and we do have competent people performing works of art, including literary works.”
“In the case of Fathers of Belize, it is a very, very timely project because what we want more than ever these days is to have models; model citizens to hold up before the young people in society for them to emulate and to pattern their lives after.”
Jose Mai, who has been a teacher for most of his life, says he was honoured to be featured in “Pillars” and hopes that he has been an inspiration to the hundreds of students he has helped to educate.
Jose Mai, Educator
“Well I’ve always believed in doing the best in whatever you do; that is my philosophy, my motto in life. And so in whatever I do, I try to do it in the pursuit of excellence.”
Unlike the other publications, the booklet entitled “Inside Out” does not focus on any notable personalities. It’s a compilation of emotional poems written in the past year by Ian Cacho and Herbert Tun. The poetry is based on experiences shared by the authors while growing up in Belize.
Ian Cacho, Author, Inside Out
“For me, personally growing in southside Belize, the so called hood, there is a lot of stuff, there is gangs, there’s guns, there’s violence, there’s single parents and a whole lot of different stuff while your growing up. You see that everyday and a way to express that to other people who don’t know exactly what you are going through.”
One young lady who is definitely not short on emotion is Jamilia Parrish. Parrish has been writing poems for the past ten years, but it is the first time that her work has been internationally recognized by the International Society of Poets. Parrish won the award with her poem, Independent Woman.
Jamilia Parrish, Reciting Poem
“Don’t you ever try to control me, you better get it straight, because I’m an independent woman, so don’t you ever make that mistake…”
Hyde says the National Library Service always work to promote local talent but the response from the public has not been encouraging.
Charles Hyde
“Not as good as I would like it to be. I personally believe that every single citizen of Belize, who consider themselves literary, or educated, should have a library of his own with all the local works, and to encourage their children and other members of the family to read more. Because that is the only way we are going to improve and develop; if we can inspire our young people to read, especially to read.”
The booklets, “Fathers of Belize”, “Pillars” and “Inside Out” are available at the National Library Service for ten dollars each. Jacqueline Woods for News 5.
