Reading contest won by Hummingbird, All Saints

“Reading maketh a full man,” said Francis Bacon. But what he may have added is that sometimes reading also maketh some money … as a few hard working students in Belize City discovered this morning.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
One month after the National Reading Contest commence, today eight students all winners in the zone eliminations competed for the overall title.

The contest is hosted by the Belize National Library Service and according to the assistant librarian and the programme coordinator Myrtle Myvett if the children hope to grab the judge?s attention they have to do more than just talk the talk.

Myrtle Myvett, Programme Coordinator
?They are looking for fluency, dictation, intonation, clarity, projection and overall presentation.?

It sounds as if the students have had been practicing hard to win, but the goal of the programme goes far beyond the competition.

Myrtle Myvett
?Having children wanting to read, having that habit of reading and encouraging reading.?

Myvette says it is the library?s responsibility to nurture a reading habit that?for many reasons?have been lost.

Myrtle Myvett
?We have television for one. Our children will sit down and watch television and we find out that they are becoming more imitators than creators and if they should pick up a book and read, no. It is far more important in reading a book than watching television. We can say the internet is another factor.?

Nine year old Zane Wilson and eleven year old Dominique Gordon already know the benefits of reading. These students from Hummingbird and All Saints Primary Schools may have been nervous and even suffered from a sore throat but after three hours of a very tight competition, the young boys emerged as the winners in their respective divisions.

Jacqueline Godwin
?Why is it so important for children to read??

Dominique Gordon, 1st place winner, Category 2
?Because they will achieve more goals and they will do better in school.?

Zane Wilson, 1st place winner, Category 1
?Because it makes your brain, it gets you smarter.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?What did you do to prepare yourself for the competition??

Zane Wilson
?I trained with my mom and my teacher.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?How has reading helped you? In what other subjects has it helped you?

Dominique Gordon
?In comprehension and language arts.?

Zane and Dominque each received trophies and cash prizes of three hundred and two hundred dollars respectively. The boys? teachers were also awarded for their hard work. Coming in second were Briyana Samuels of Wesley Lower and Cierra Jones of Queen?s Square Anglican School. Third place went to Zee ? Ann Frazer of St. John?s and Roniesha Gentle of St. Ignatius Upper. Fourth place was awarded to Andrea Avaloy of Central Christian and Ashton Nicholas of Bernice Yorke. These boys and girls all received cash prizes.

Myvette says because of financial constraints the reading contest was held exclusively for students from primary schools in Belize City. There are plans, however, to extend the competition countrywide if more funds can be raised.