Mayor’s magic horse

Sometimes even a mayor needs a magical horse to get through the day.

On Thursday that’s just how Mayor Keith Hobbs started his morning, taking time to read to an enthusiastic Grade 2 class at C.D. Howe Public School, in celebration of Family Literacy Day.

Hobbs, who listed L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz among his childhood favourites, said he didn’t hesitate to accept when asked to visit different classrooms and share his love of reading.

“It think it’s very important,” said Hobbs, who spent about 15 minutes with the students, also taking questions about his job as mayor, explaining taxation and what the money is used for.

“The more education you get, the better the chances are of you getting the skilled jobs. I went to college and I took some university courses and it really helped me. I stressed that with the children today: get a good education, work hard and it will pay dividends in the end.”

Hobbs read the Magic Horse of Han Gan, by Chen Jiang Hong, a book chosen by teacher Dorothy Valiunas for its compatibility with a module on China her students are currently working on.

Seven-year-old Aidan Burns, said it was “kind of exciting” to have Hobbs in the classroom because he’s always wanted to meet the mayor.

“I’ve seen his picture on Facebook,” the youngster said, minutes after informing Hobbs and the rest of his class about a volcanic eruption in southern Japan that began on Wednesday.

Aidan, who’s been reading for about three years, said other than pure enjoyment, he does it for one reason.

“Because I like to get smart from books and I have my very own chapter books since I’ve been reading good,” he said. “I’m like a level Z because I’ve been practicing for years. I like to read about China, Argentina, Mexico, U.S.A., Europe, Asia and Italy.”

According to the Ontario Literacy Coalition, low literacy rates have remained at 42 per cent for the past 10 years. The number, which mirrors the youth rate, is six percentage points better than the Canadian average, but still higher than most would like.

Valiunas is a big fan of the Family Literacy Day program, adding that bringing someone of the stature of Hobbs into the classroom will definitely instill a sense of importance about reading in the children she teaches.

“A mayor is, for most children, just a name of a position. To actually meet the mayor face to face and to have him read to them, I think it’s really exciting and a very pleasant surprise. They had no idea he was coming this morning.”

Finding new ways to encourage kids to read is not easy, she added, noting that in the world of video games and DVDs it’s easy for children to forget the books lining the shelves of their rooms.

“I think we have to work harder to get them excited about it. It’s a lot to compete with. But I think core curiosity and interest in reading is still there. It’s different somehow. You’re using a different part of your brain and there’s something pleasurable in reading,” Valiunas said.

“It’s also something that children like to develop. They like to feel in themselves that they’re progressing. So as they’re moving along in their reading ability, it gets exciting for them. It’s like a goal they can reach.”