Berkeley’s ‘One Island, One Book’ Begins
The Berkeley Institute’s ‘One Island, One Book‘ initiative begins today [Feb 1], with the public invited to “begin reading and participating in the February and March activity.”
A spokesperson said, “One Island, One Book starts today, February 1, 2022. The Berkeley Institute invites you to begin reading and participating in the February and March activity ‘Bermuda Reads with Berkeley.’ The chosen novel is Girlcott by Mrs. Florenz Webbe Maxwell.
“Activities for the reading of chapters one and two can be found on their webpage ‘One Island, One Book – The Berkeley Institute, Bermuda.’ There you will find youth and adult activities.
“This week’s activities include a word search, a family activity of identifying the pictures of people, places and things common in the 1950s and mentioned in the first two chapters, a cryptogram, facts about the 1959 Theatre Boycott, and suggestions for discussion.
Some discussion points for the adults are as follows:
- What was the speed limit in Bermuda in 1959? What is the speed limit now? Compare the road conditions.
- Discuss:
- Mrs Wallace’s relationship with Almira compared to Desma’s relationship with her mother
- Desma’s reaction to the Wallaces when Mrs. Wallace asks her to become her nanny
- Mr. Wallace’s reaction when Desma said that she wanted to become an actuary
- Mr. Wallace’s reaction when Desma compared him to her father
- What did Mrs. Wallace mean by “You coloured people are too well fed and polite to bite the hand that feeds you.”
- Why would people think that The Progressives were ‘foreign’?
Some discussion points for youth are as follows:
- a. Discuss Desma as a high school student. What is her best subject? Is she a popular student? Would she be a popular student today?
- b. What is Actuarial Science? What does an actuary do? Who was Bermuda’s first credentialed actuary?
- c. “ …because girls were not supposed to be good in Math”. Discuss this remark , who made it and and why it was made.
- d. Define these words: Commonwealth, Empire, Segregation, Disposition
- e. Define ‘coloured person’ as it was used in 1959.
- f. When is loquat season in Bermuda?
- i. How old would Fiona be on April 10, 2022?
- j. With which exam board did Desma take her high school examinations? Oxford Cambridge Oxbridge London
“We will be covering two chapters every week with interactive activities and discussion points on our Facebook page. Watch out for more Girlcott update displays and discussions here and from The Bermuda Library and The Bookmart as they support us in this exciting island-wide reading initiative.”
It will open their eyes.