Forgotten ones need help to be learners - (Full text for Easier Reading follows)

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IF you have read the tale of Pearl Pussyfoot who is pampered and plants pansies or wondered why Ordinary Audrey has an extraordinarily orderly orchard you probably already know Christina Alexander and her collection of Banana Books.

Mrs Alexander is a teacher and dyslexia consultant who asked me why, amid all the present crescendo of projects for International Literacy Year, there has been so little said and spent on the problems of people with specific learning disabilities.

I went to her rooms in the Brisbane suburb of Kenmore last week to talk about this and to look into a situation she describes as 'a can of worms'.

She is an extraordinarily energetic and entertaining lady. Her consultancy rooms are filled with teaching material she has developed.

My favourite is her bright banana-coloured Boodle Of Doodles.

Yellow is Christina's trademark. As a former New Zealander, she never loses a chance to say that she's an enthusiastic banana-bender and a dweller in the land of the long yellow banana.

I thought the International Literacy Year had been going along very well.

But a great deal of attention hasn't been given to learning difficulties or publicity to the difficulties faced by remedial teachers, their students and families.

Christina said this was because many educationists and government agencies had placed the problem of helping dyslectics in the too-hard basket.

She said dyslexia in non-technical terms simply meant the brain cells were arranged slightly differently in sufferers so that the usual learning methods were not sufficient.

But it was not all bad news.

The syndrome often includes being gifted as well as learning difficulties, but can lead to delinquent and disruptive behaviour and the inability to express the gifts which the person possesses.

The school system has specially-trained remedial teachers and remedial material available.

But Mrs Alexander said the methods were not effective. She was a remedial classroom teacher until 12 years ago.

What I saw of her method enabled me to realise it is fascinating and fun and puts great emphasis on individual and family support.

The material is designed to create learning through incorporating multiple methods of reinforcing and retaining information.

It also places great emphasis upon training a special adult to act as a guide and encourager.

But back to the Boodle Of Doodles.

This is a fascinating kit with the emphasis on the tactile exploration of its goodies.

It has been developed as a learning difficulties preventative measure for all four-year-olds.

It is being reproduced under Christina's direction by a group of gifted young people as their special contribution to International Literacy Year.

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