Examining Cultural Relevancy in the "Doctor Bird Readers": Text Analysis From the Perspective of Jamaican Children.

A study examined whether cultural relevancy was achieved in the development of stories for the "Doctor Bird Readers" by the Jamaican government for children in grades four through six by using Jamaican authors and artists. Quantitative questionnaires were used to survey the schools, and participant observations and informal interviews during the ethnography provided a means of gathering background knowledge of the Jamaican culture. Individual interviews (three 1-hour sessions) were conducted by grade level with four-six students of mixed abilities. Three hundred fifty-one questionnaires were completed, with results indicating that the books were used daily or frequently. Qualitative interviews revealed that 60 of the 75 stories were considered relevant by the students. The relevancy described by the children in these interviews was both personal and cultural. Background knowledge and experiences that the children brought to the text, combined with their ability to predict what was happening, affected readability the most. Teachers reperted that although the books were most effective wii)1 the middle reading groups, overall the books were having a positive effect on all of the students. (Twenty-eight references are attached.) (MG) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** "PERMISSION TO REPRCDUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRAN-ED BY ALLS__gEAD_LPM TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)" U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IERICI 0 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes nave been made to improve reproduction ouahty Points of view or opinionsstated in thisdoeu ment do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy ABSTRACT AT IS HEADLAMAT IS HEADLAM EXAMINING CULTURAL RELEVANCY IN THE DOCTOR BIRD READERS: TEXT ANALYSIS :ROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF JAMAICAN CHILDREN Paper Presented At the 35th Annual International Reading Association Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on May 9, 1990 The Doctor Bird Readers represents a first attempt by the Jamaican government to produce reading books for children in grades 4 6. The Ministry of Education sought to develop storios which were relevant to the lives of the readers by using Jamaican authors and artists. This dissertation research uses primarily a qualitative methodology to examine whether cultural relevancy was achieved. An important element of the research describes the researcher's immersion in the Jamaican culture before beginning interviews with authors, artists, students, and teachers. A quantitative questionnaire combined with interview data collected during a pilot study shows that the books were regarded as culturally relevant by both students and teachers. This data confirms a study conducted by the Ministry of Education prior to island-wide distribution of the books. In the study information gathered during interviews with authors and artists examines why they chose certain stories or illustrations. Interviews with children and