Librarian’s unique “Homework Pass” a hit with kids in Enniscrone
Enniscrone librarian Susan McDonagh is making waves along the Diamond Coast with a creative initiative that has local kids lining up to visit the library.
Her “Homework Pass” program, launched in March 2024, has become a sought-after reward that offers students the chance to skip homework for one night, all by visiting the local Library.
Inspired by her own children’s love for the occasional break from hum drum assignments, McDonagh designed the pass to spark interest in reading and entice more young readers into the library.
“One thing I certainly know,” she shared, “is that it is critical to promote reading and to strive to increase children’s literacy skills. Through this homework pass scheme, Enniscrone Library has been inviting more children to enter the world of imagination that awaits behind library doors!”
The initiative arrives amid discussions on a recent article by ‘The Atlantic’s’ Rose Horowitch, which stated how some students at elite universities are struggling with reading full-length books.
With literacy increasingly under the spotlight, McDonagh’s unique approach aims to uphold the importance of fostering a love for reading from an early age.
To celebrate the pass, McDonagh even penned a playful poem.
The Homework Pass
My kids kept their homework passes safe and secure
and would only cash them in when there was homework galore.
I soon learned there was nothing a kid wouldn’t do,
to acquire a night off from spellings or a sum or two.
This innocent bit of paper held such power,
more than any book festival
or extravagant David Walliams library book tower.
The way my kids treasured this sparkling jewel,
they didn’t need to be told that they had struck gold.
This golden ticket doesn’t promise chocolate,
but it still tastes as sweet.
It offers kids freedom if just for one night,
and kids everywhere will beg, borrow or make any deal,
just to get this little slip of paper,
that sets them free!
Susan Mc Donagh
Enniscrone Librarian