Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 14/01) - Recognizing it as the most important tool to any kind of success, in Weledeh classrooms literacy is king.

The school's goal is to have at least 80 per cent of students reading at grade level or better.

"We found if we didn't declare a focus on it, there were gaps that students were falling into," said principal John Murphy.

"When you publicly state something, you become accountable. When you become accountable, you devote the resources you need to devote to the issue."

Its Language Foundations Program, delivered by teacher Carrie Monks, is typical of the effort that is made to prevent students from falling through the cracks.

In operation for five years, the program is aimed at students who are not reading as well as they should. Classes are small, 8-12 students in each.

Murphy said a low pupil-teacher ratio is the most important element in any learning environment.

That understanding is reflected in the rest of the school, which boasts a pupil-teacher ratio of 20-1.

Students are also tested on the quality of their reading. A precision reading program tests their reading fluency and accuracy.

Each day after the lunch recess, librarian Janet Diveky plays classical music over the public address system as all students participate in the Drop Everything and Read program.

The job of keeping kids reading is not left to teachers alone.

Students from senior grades are brought into lower grades to read aloud to younger students.

Yellowknife Rotarians read to students for a half hour to 45 minutes once each week.

As they are in every other subjects, parents play at least as important a role in the education of their children as the school, said Murphy.

That's particularly true where literacy is concerned.

"From our research, the single biggest impediment to literacy today is the widespread use of television in children's bedrooms," Murphy said.

Kids who watch thousands of three-second clips that make up music videos or other television fare, are more likely to have difficulty dealing with things, like reading, which demand more sustained focus, the principal said.