Although she might not know it, my Grade 7 teacher effortlessly made me fall in love with reading.
One day Mrs Poltera (I do not know her first name nor would I ever comfortably call her by it if I did) had two boys in our class help her carry in a large box. To our surprise, in it laid brand new books, enough for everyone in the class. A gesture, which at the time, was somewhat wasted on a class of 13-year-olds who would have rather had an extended break. Suffice to say, every day after the second break she would give us the stern request to take our books out to read.
But this was not just any old kids book, it was Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights and when she read it, boy oh boy, did she take me on a journey. With each character, her cadence would change and through every inflexion, an understanding for that character was formed. Those last 40 minutes of school spent reading this book were the most insightfully thrilling moments spent at my desk. Always known a daydreamer, I now had the perfect remedy to my wandering mind, it was following Lyra and her dæmon, Pantalaimon as they travelled to the Arctic helped by many along the way, including a great and powerful polar bear, to save her best friend from those who wished to harm him and other children.
Through this book, I learned about the Aurora Borealis was introduced to words like ‘languid’ and ‘ingratiate’ which I then looked up to further understand their meaning. It also taught me that confidence and conviction to do what is right would always prevail against what is wrong. Young Lyra’s self-confidence was inspiring to read as a 12-year-old girl who was riddled with insecurities and self-doubt.
International Literacy Day is on 8 September and based on a study done by The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, which showed that eight out of 10 Grade 4 learners cannot read for meaning was concerning. For this book to have had its positive effects on me, it was integral I comprehend the message it sought to give. Learning that many of our country’s 10-year-olds would not comprehend this book or any other book for that matter, really makes one understand the importance of good teachers and how significant it is for parents to instil a strong reading culture at home.
On this day, and every day, I hope children and adults alike see reading as a delight and not a chore to hastily get done with. At the end of the day, it is because of teachers like Mrs Poltera that I still have a copy of Northern Lights on my bed stand and although every page is still as enthralling, it’s just missing her magic touch.
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