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School Libraries As An Effective Instrument For Achieving Academic Excellence
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
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A large percentage of pupil and students in nursery, primary and
secondary schools are ignorant of the fact that personal intelligence
and more knowledge of a subject does not automatically establish firm
knowledge of a subject and excellence in school, the school library is
an invaluable and for achieving academic excellence. Also teachers,
parents and libraries are today concerned about the poor reading habits
of our students, poor performance at school and fall in our educational
standard. This cry has invariably elicited very passionate question in
the minds of those who love and care of all round development of these
students. The libraries are yearning collectively on how to combat this
problem knowing the adverse effect of this ailment first in the lives of
the pupils and students, secondly in the progress of a country like
ours.
The relationship between school libraries and reading habits
and that between school libraries and academic excellence has been a
subject of theoretical interest and practical importance amongst
librarians. However, this relationship has been established through
effective reading and general success in academic pursuit. In the
primary schools, the library laid the foundation for reading habits by
importing reading skills at the formation stage of the pupils education.
In the secondary schools they form the foundation for independent
learning at present school and at successive stages of the students life
by establishing firmly the reading habits acquired in the primary
school. Also the school library communicates information from several
information carries, for better understanding and broadcasting of
knowledge and there produce profound effects on the various categories
of the students populace who acquire the skill of utilizing and
assimilating information from the library, thus become more successful
than others by virtue of information and knowledge they possess via the
library collections.
It was in view of this that Morgan (2003)
asserts that in the hands of a cultured teacher the school library may
serve as a link to bind together the home and school, and to arouse the
interest of parents in what and how their children are reading, by
referring them to the library.
Teachers can suggest to pupils
valuable books suitable for their age, attainment, tastes and
necessities. Seldom does a day pass when the vigilant teacher has not an
opportunity, either in a class or in private conversation, to drop into
the prepared soil of pupils mind a hint of some valuable books to read
in the library.
In conclusion “there is no better intellectual and
moral influence than that which comes from reading a good book aloud in
the family circle†Morgan (2003) concludes that:-
Learning with tear
is now a thing of the past like wise learning from single textbook. As
every good and resourceful teacher knows one of the crimes or worst
“sins†a teacher can commit against his students is to feed them with
wrong and out-dated information, also for the purpose of education to be
fully achieved, students and teachers need to consult several source
for better understanding and clearity. Also, nothing could be as
dangerous as ignorance and an ill-informed student as they fall prey to
rumours and false propaganda. The library selects, acquires and store in
a classified arrangement on shelves the best and up-to-date sources of
information that keeps staff and students abreast of new developments in
knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, encourage practical
work and develop the powers of analytical appraisal and of critical
thinking.
Learning can be one of the most exciting experience in
life, while reading is identified as the single most important
determinant of a child’s success at school and in modern society as
well. Learning also in modern life depends largely upon ones ability to
interpret the printed messages accurately and fully, while reading is an
educational task, essential for ones excellence in all academic
pursuits. He who has other reasons for learning and reading besides
interest in the subject has everything going for him, his interests
broadens and cheap source of information during childhood education.
Thus ideas absorbed from reading and learning through then remains with
the students for the rest of their lives and produces profound effects
and influences on their academics. Also the school library in no small
measure plays a great part on the attitudes, behaviours, aspiration
academic pursuits embarked upon by students and in determining the kind
of people they can be
Good readers who have mastered the tasks of
reading agree that early exposure to a wide range of printed materials
is a highly relevant factor in reading. The handicap most secondary
schools students face in reading development is lack of good reading
materials. The school libraries are indispensable in the area of
provision and proper use of books, this have made them the forum on
which the educational activities of our secondary school revolves. It
behaves on students numerous information sources to exploit so as to
enhance their academic performance and to excel. This way, it lays
foundation for a brighter future. Knowledge acquired from the
information embedded, in the library and resources is like a fortune
rightly acquired. For it is “the heart of the institution and the apex
on which the intellectual life of the school and student restâ€.
CHAPTER ONE -- [Total Page(s) 5]
Page 2 of 5
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