Barriers
by Anne Welch

When I lived in Yorkshire I went to school. I thought I liked school but my Mom thought I didn't. The teachers in Yorkshire didn't help me. They only helped the ones that were smart.

It is a shame that they left us behind. There were a couple of us who couldn't read and write. We wanted help. But we did not get help. When I left school at 15 years I still couldn't read and write. I felt ashamed.

When I was 24 I came to Canada. It has taken me 16 years in Canada to build up my courage to come back to school to learn. The teachers in Canada are understanding. Now I can read and write because someone has taken their time to help me. I don't need to be ashamed anymore. I've overcome the barrier that stopped me from learning. 

Background Information

Talk about your school experiences. Were they good or bad? What one thing do you remember most about school? Then talk about what you think the differences and similarities might be between the school system in England and the one in Canada.

Questions

1. Where do you think Yorkshire is?

2. Why does Anne think the teachers didn't help her?

3. When did Anne leave school?

4. What is another word for smart?

5. What does ashamed mean?

6. How old was Anne when she came to Canada?

7. How long did it take her to go back to school?

8. Use the word courage in a sentence.

9. Why do you think the teachers in Canada are so understanding?

10. What is a barrier?

11. Why do you think people feel ashamed when they can't read and write?