Adventures in Literacy

By Erika Engel
Special to The Hamilton Spectator
(May 3, 2008)

See Spot run. See Spot leap over tall buildings.

Big B Comics is donating 1,500 comic books to the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board to promote literacy for boys on Free Comic Book Day today.

The day is celebrated across North America at many comic book stores, including Big B Comics on Upper James Street and Comic Connection on King Street West.

This is the first time Big B has made an extra donation on Free Comic Book Day.

"It just seemed fitting," said owner Walter Durajlija.

Chris Spence, director of education for the board, will be at the store to receive the donation today at noon.

Durajlija decided to make the donation after he attended a Boys to Men literacy seminar organized by Spence and the board.

"I thought, 'I have stuff boys love reading,' " he said.

He later approached school board staff to arrange the donation.

Durajlija remembers comic books igniting his interest in reading at a young age, and he can see the same interest in his son, who is in Grade 3.

"I hope it sparks an interest, I hope it proves that reading isn't painful, that it's enjoyable and it's a door to adventure," he said.

The books, which are screened for content, will be given to schools as teaching resources.

Spence says he believes educators should broaden their perspective of what literacy is and how they teach it. He says they should use the Internet, games and other technology to promote literacy.

"If you want to be successful in reaching them and teaching them, you have to go through their door," he said.

According to the Education Quality and Accountability Office test results from last year, 57 per cent of Grade 3 students in the public board were at or above provincial standards for reading. In the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, that number was 69 per cent. The province-wide average is 62 per cent.

International testing from the EQAO showed that girls scored an average of 13 per cent better than boys in reading achievement.

Educator 'on a mission' to close boy-girl literacy gap

Chris Spence, director of education for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and a former Canadian Football League running back, talked to The Spectator about literacy.
Q. What got you reading as a kid?
A. Sports. I was really involved with sports, and I read anything with sports in it. I remember reading the sports pages to my parents. I would pick up Sports Illustrated at the store.
Q. Are comic books really going to help young boys learn to read?
A. Absolutely. You want to engage them in reading. Once they enjoy it, they are inspired to pick up more. When you find their interests, you can continually expose them to other genres.
Q. Why the focus on boys?
A. In the total picture, girls are outperforming boys. I'm on a bit of a mission to close the gap. If we give further support to our boys, our schools will be better and safer.