Newspapers
What does a
newspaper mean to us?
Why do we
read the newspaper?
Different
people have different reasons to read the newspaper. Of course , the most
important being ,”to stay informed”.
Some people
use newspapers to improve their language and vocabulary while a few read the
paper to develop better analytical skills.
Whatever the
reason maybe, it is a commonly accepted fact that the popularity of newspapers
is declining, especially amongst the younger generation.
Newspaper
and tea are my early morning companions.
The rustle
of fresh paper, front page headline followed by the crossword puzzle, word
jumble, loop the loop and many more, are what makes the paper so interesting
and something to look forward to each day.
The detailed
editorials present many differing perspectives
on current affairs, cultural and social issues, ports, financial trends, etc.
Keeping in
mind , the various benefits, I try to encourage my students to read the
newspaper every day. But verbal commands and cues are not enough.
I order 6 newspapers
for my Boarding house. Earlier, there were just one or two students who would
be reading them newspaper. It dismayed me that most of the newspapers were left
untouched.
So, I cut
out articles which I think, would interest the students and pin them on the notice
boards. Later, during the day, I try to initiate conversation about these
articles.
I have been
doing this for the past few months.
But lately,
I noticed a group of students , made it a point to come down early , before morning assembly, to read the paper and at times some students would want to carry the newspaper to their
rooms to be able to read it at leisure.
I was happy
that I have been able to generate this interest in my wards which , I am sure,
would make them more aware of what is happening in the world and in their
neighbourhood. Not just that, they would be able to take more informed
decisions about various life style choices and be able to have informed opinions.
Another positive
trend which I noticed was that with a growing interest in reading, be it
newspaper or anything else, students willingly spent time away from their
electronic gadgets and utilised this time in a more constructive and useful
manner.
