I was joined by 30 of my fellow community members at Harnett Primary School to commemorate Read Across America Day and Dr. Suess’ 106th Birthday. I read Happy Birthday to You! by Dr. Suess to Mrs. Gage’s second grade class which I thought would make a fitting tribute. The kids all got a kick out of the book and I think some even started to envision their upcoming birthday parties in their heads. In addition to all the wonderful volunteers, another special guest showed up at the school today the State Employees’ Credit Union’s own Fat Cat met and greeted the kids. I also traveled next door to Wayne Avenue Elementary School to read to Ms. Wilson’s 5th grade class.
I have always known that reading is an important skill for our kids to have to be successful in life. This fact has been even more dramatically illustrated to me as the Secretary of the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention where our statistics have shown that youth committed to our facilities are often 4 to 6 grade levels below where they should be in reading. A child who cannot read struggles in school and often ends up acting out in class to hide their reading challenges. I hope by having so many of our community leaders, and volunteers show up this morning at Harnett Primary School we helped to show the kids how enjoyable and important reading can be.
