00:16For many of us, this scene feels familiar. Reading stories written by Frank M. Porter,
00:23from Republic Readers to Caribbean Rhythm, his books became a staple in classrooms across Trinidad
00:29and Tobago and helped shape generations of young minds. But have you ever wondered how the man behind
00:35the books got his start? I realized the children were having difficulties. Out of 10, they would
00:41get like about two or three. And then one day I decided to write on the backboard a short story
00:48about a woman called Mabel. Very fast went into Duncan Street to watch a fire. And then she left
00:55a potter dumpling on the fire. And when she came back, of course, it all burnt up. And then I
01:02put
01:0210 questions. And amazingly, the children who were getting two and three, they were now getting eight
01:08and nine. I say, wow, I did it one more time. I say, I think I want to do something.
01:14As a teacher, Porter noticed that his students performed better when they could identify with
01:20the stories they were reading. The characters felt familiar, the experiences relatable. That
01:26realization inspired his first book, Adventures of Boise Jones. But that was only the beginning.
01:32It then led to the creation of the books we know today, Republic Readers and Caribbean Rhythm.
01:37I remember this senior teacher said, you know, Mr. Porter, this looks real good. You know,
01:43we like that. But hear what? We really want something to replace the cartridge, you know,
01:47because them children can't take over the car or jump over the moon anymore. And I said, is that so?
01:54And that is how the Republic Readers was born. The Republic Readers would go on to become
02:01classroom favorites, introducing students to memorable characters like Boyo and Carla. But
02:07where did those beloved characters come from? When I grew up, two popular names you found in the
02:13villages was Boyo. Boyo was definitely up there. With regards to Carla, I chose Carla because I wanted
02:25to have an ABC sequence. The baby was called Anna, B for Boyo and C for Carla. So that was
02:33the secret.
02:35And it was this winning combination of creativity, culture and relatable storytelling that propelled
02:42Frank M. Porter to success. Even today, decades later, adults still approach him to share memories
02:49of growing up with his books. A young woman, somebody mentioned Mr. Porter. And she said,
02:56is that Frank M. Porter? And the lady said, yes, he is, you know. And this young woman came up
03:04now.
03:04She was going, a university student now. And she was so excited. She said, you taught me to read.
03:10You taught me to read. I felt good. And among his proudest moments was seeing Boyo and Carla officially
03:18become part of the school curriculum. I think what made me appreciate what I did,
03:24for five years. I literally, you know, exposed everybody to reading through that program. And
03:30that makes me feel proud to this day. So doctors and nurses and teachers and, you know, generations,
03:39Boyo and Carla. While many readers have their favorite Frank M. Porter story,
03:45the author has a favorite of his own. Some of you guys out there might remember this one,
03:50that standpipe. Neighbor, you see that standpipe over there? How do you mean with standpipe?
03:59Like a cookie or what? There's only one standpipe over there.
04:04Porter believes his creativity can be traced back to his childhood and the woman who inspired him most,
04:10his mother. I grew up in poverty. I was not from a privileged background. And in fact,
04:17I remember my first alphabet because we didn't have the money to buy an alphabet. It was my mother
04:24getting cardboard and a piece of coal, charcoal, and she made her own alphabet. Like A for apple,
04:32so she drew her own little apple. B for bat, she drew her own little bat. And a man, poverty
04:38a hell
04:39I know. Poverty can create inventions, new creative approaches. Those early lessons not only shaped our
04:47writer, but also a man of faith. Although he loved teaching and writing, Porter says his life took
04:53another turn when he felt called to ministry. I heard the voice say to me, close the book. And when
05:00I closed the book, I heard the voice say, you ought to leave your job. Leave my job. So I
05:07said, okay.
05:08Today, through his ministry, Porter believes his purpose is to help transform lives,
05:13strengthen communities, and guide the nation's youth. And when it comes to helping troubled
05:18young people, he believes the answer begins with one simple word.
05:23Love. They need that.
05:26These days, Porter continues to write, produce music, and preach. But when he's away from the spotlight,
05:32you'll likely find him enjoying two of his favorite things, gardening and family time.
05:37Oh, I love the garden. I love the garden.
05:42And for aspiring writers hoping to follow in his footsteps, he offered this advice.
05:47You want to write a book? Write the book. And from there, you'll just see things unfold.
05:53I am Frank M. Porter. Thank you for catching up.
05:59Rochelle Edwards, TV6 News.
06:01Rochelle Edwards, TV6 News.
06:04Rochelle Edwards, TV6 News.
06:07Rochelle Edwards, TV7 News.
Comments