We are reading about Martin Luther King. A group of eight-year-olds and I have met, as usual, to read together and discuss the book. "How would you feel if you were made to sit at the back of the bus while your white friends were allowed to sit in the front?" I ask a girl who is never short of an opinion. She senses that I expect a profound answer, so she stops to think. Then she replies, "I would feel very sad because they might be talking about something interesting and I wouldn't be able to hear."

I try to contain my smile; truthfully, I am thrilled by the fact that she and her peers are finding segregation inconceivable. It is something they just can't relate to, so as I sit with this racially diverse group I mentally celebrate Martin Luther King's achievements. Yet another achievement is that these children are learning about this amazing part of America's history simply by reading a fun book. I think back to my seven-year-old learning about the holocaust through a great book, The Rising Star, the Russian Revolution in the book, The Ballet Shoes. The list goes on, of the knowledge and understanding that children can achieve by reading.

Laudable initiative

I have long been an advocate of encouraging literacy in Jamaica's schools and I believe nothing else should be done in the way of academics until we achieve a literate school population. Therefore, I applaud Education Minister Andrew Holness' initiative to make children repeat the grade four literacy test in grade five and six if they have failed it. At present, 40 per cent of students who sit the Grade Four Literacy Test do not achieve mastery. Furthermore, according to an educator, the Grade Four Literacy Test is not even of a high standard and on international standards it more represents a grade two reading level.

Maxine Henry-Wilson, former Education Minister, said that studies had shown that if children were not promoted they could become demotivated, or be labelled as 'dunce'. However, I am certain that there are endless studies to show the damaging emotional, as well as professional consequences of being an illiterate adult. There can be little doubt that this would be devastating to young adults'self-confidence and intellectual development. Surely, we have to find a way, whether by streaming students or other methods, to ensure that illiterate children are just not pushed through the system.

More to be done

More important, though, there is just a wealth of knowledge and information that simply becomes inaccessible, on the Internet, in the papers and in good old-fashioned books. While this new retesting of the grade four literacy is a small step in the right direction there is still much to be done. There are excellent and comprehensive literacy programmes that, once implemented, almost guarantee enthusiastic readers.

Another member of the group was asked to make a connection from the book. Her connection was that Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, just like that other guy who just got, for his movie on the environment. Honestly, I learned things about Martin Luther King in this book and am impressed by the fact that these eight-year-olds have such a head start on history, world knowledge and even human rights, all from just reading a book.