Celebrating the Importance of Reading in Education
 
March 1, 2002
 
Today, March 1st, millions of Americans young and old are celebrating the National Education Association’s 5th Annual “Read Across America” Day by teaching and promoting the importance of reading to our children.  

Read Across America was started to celebrate the joys of reading and to honor the famous children’s author, Dr. Seuss, whose birthday falls on March 2nd.  Each year, at the beginning of March, the National Education Association holds events across country to promote the value of reading.  Last year’s events attracted over 35 million readers of all ages in all 50 states as well as several foreign countries, making it the largest one-day literacy celebration in the United States and, perhaps, the world.

I was honored to be able to participate in this year’s Read Across America celebration by reading to 1st and 2nd grade students here in the Fourth Congressional District.  As the proud son of public school educators and as the father of two young school aged children, I feel strongly that reading is the foundation of learning, not only for youngsters, but for people of all ages.  And it has been proven that reading to young children fosters mental and academic growth that can last a lifetime.  

As we recognize this Read Across America Day, I encourage Arkansans to take time to read a book or newspaper to a child, to help someone realize the dream of literacy, or simply to remember and enjoy the benefits of reading in our own lives.


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