Rat race in town and country

THE EDITOR, Sir:

During the late 1990s, the primary education system introduced a free-book methodology which was aimed at increasing literacy. One of the contributing stories from a book within this programme was titled Town Rat Goes to Country and Country Rat Goes to Town.

The story explained the culture shock and fast-paced city experiences for the country rat. The town rat was not able to be conservative within the domains of a slow-paced society.

The reading programme was not a success at the primary level, as many of the stories were of a basic proficiency and led to the non-enhancement of stimulating phonics recognition, word recognition and the increase of the literacy rate.

Poverty, education, culture, social ties and morals all have a town- and country-rat paradigm. Poverty in rural areas exists from the monoculture farming belts and small, seasonal economic centres. Poverty within urban areas exists from non-productive economic centres, political anomalies, unemployment and lack of proper governance.

The town- and country-rat paradigm exists as a mere abstract of the diverse country that held the future of the Y generation.

ANN-MARIE THOMPSON