Share your stories of learning to read in new book

The Rebecca Ostrowiak School of Reading operated in Germiston from 1969 to 1991.

When the school closed, the principal of the school and founder of the Readucate Trust, Edna Freinkel, retained the files of all the children and adults who had been taught to read through these facilities.

“Those files moved with us when we sold the school property in Selkirk Street, Germiston South, and were given the fantastically generous donation of rent-free offices for the Readucate Trust, an NGO that continues to upgrade literacy, by Standard Bank, in their building in President Street, in the Germiston CBD,” said Freinkel.

“This building has now been sold and we have to vacate the offices this month.

“I am currently writing a book of case histories to give hope to parents whose children suffer from various reading problems, such as dyslexia, etc., as well as adults with reading difficulties.

“I intend to draw on our records, but confidentiality will be respected.”

If, however, the parents and their now grown-up children themselves or adult students would like to share their subsequent experiences in education and careers once they mastered reading at the school, it would give great hope and encouragement to untold thousands.

Past students interested in doing this can email to ostro@mweb.co.za to share their achievements and stories of overcoming their difficulties, disproving the dire predictions by specialists at the time regarding their future.

“I look forward to documenting these stories and encourage our past pupils to contact me as soon as possible,” said Freinkel.

“Loving blessings to all who have been associated with the Rebecca Ostrowiak School of Reading and the Readucate Trust.”