Ten-Year-Old Advocates for Literacy Screening in Manitoba Schools

A ten-year-old boy named Jacob Dyck made a notable appearance at a legislative committee meeting in Manitoba, advocating for a new bill aimed at improving literacy screening for young students. He emphasized the need for teachers to understand how to effectively teach students with dyslexia, stating, “all teachers need to know how to teach dyslexia kids.” His heartfelt testimony was part of a larger discussion surrounding Bill 225, which seeks to implement mandatory screening for literacy difficulties in elementary schools.

Jacob was among 38 individuals who registered to speak about the proposed legislation, known as the Public Schools Amendment Act (Universal Screening for Learning Disabilities). This bill would require that all children undergo literacy screening twice a year in kindergarten and annually through to Grade 4. Schools would be obligated to share screening results with parents within 30 days, allowing for timely interventions.

Jacob’s Experience and Call for Change

During his two-minute presentation, Jacob spoke candidly about his own struggles in school. “The teachers didn’t teach me right and it was hard and it was painful for me,” he shared, prompting a round of applause from the audience. Approximately 25 supporters, including Jacob’s mother, wore red shirts to symbolize their support for dyslexia awareness, coinciding with World Dyslexia Awareness Day on October 8.

The bill was introduced by Cindy Lamoureux, the only Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Manitoba Liberal Party, on March 26. Lamoureux highlighted the alarming literacy rates in Manitoba, noting that they rank among the lowest in Canada. She pointed out that neighboring provinces, such as Ontario and Saskatchewan, have already mandated universal screening by law, pushing for similar measures in Manitoba.

Lamoureux expressed her openness to amendments to the bill while emphasizing the necessity of implementing evidence-based screening tools to ensure all children receive appropriate assessments, regardless of their school environment. She collaborated with educators and dyslexia advocates to craft the bill, aiming to address the issue of early detection of learning struggles.

Government Response and Community Support

Following a lengthy five-hour session of public presentations, Tracy Schmidt, the education minister, acknowledged the importance of the discussions and assured attendees that some screening tools are already being piloted across the province. While Schmidt described the bill’s intent as commendable, she expressed concerns about potential redundancies, indicating a desire to streamline existing initiatives.

Community members like Sid Alli, a father of a child diagnosed with dyslexia, echoed the need for improved literacy resources. Alli shared his experience of spending thousands on private assessments for his daughter, who was diagnosed with various learning challenges in Grade 3. “Reading and writing is the foundation of everything in society—academics, work,” he stated, emphasizing the critical nature of these skills for future opportunities.

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission is expected to release a report at the end of the month that addresses gaps in literacy instruction for students with learning disabilities. Karen Sharma, the executive director, has conducted extensive surveys with parents, teachers, and students and will present the findings on October 30 at the Centre culturel franco-manitobain.

As the conversation surrounding literacy screening gains momentum, advocates like Jacob Dyck and his supporters remain hopeful that Bill 225 will pave the way for better educational outcomes for all children in Manitoba.