A Deptford police officer reads to a group of students during the 2018 Read Across America event.
Deptford officials and township employees will participate in the Read Across America initiative on Friday, March 1, by reading to district elementary-school students.
Participants will be at Good Intent, Lake Track, Shady Lane and Oak Valley schools to share books with kids.
“It’s a national initiative that we participate in with the schools,” said Mayor Paul Medany, of Read Across America, an idea conceived by the National Educational Association. “We’ve been doing it for the last several years and we get a varied mix of folks who participate in it.”
They include the mayor, council and some police department officers. The main goal of the initiative in Deptford – says Medany – is to encourage reading at all ages.
“It promotes reading and to me, reading is very important,” he explained. “We’re trying to get kids and adults alike to read. I’m a book guy myself. I go to the book store and have my own library at home.”
Books to be read will be decided on by the teacher in each class visited to ensure they are age appropriate. Since the initiative also celebrates the birthday of Dr. Seuss on March 2, a number of the books read will likely be those he wrote.
“A lot of the stories we read are usually Dr. Seuss books,” Medany said. “I usually wear a hat like the one in (the Dr. Suess book) ‘Cat in the Hat.’ I do it since it gives the idea that reading is fun.”
Read Across America was first created in 1998, according to the National Educational Association website, and is believed to be the nation’s largest celebration of reading.
“This year-round program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone,” describes the Read Across America website.
The initiative was created to emphasize that books and stories are important and to inspire children and adults to not only read, but celebrate the diversity in their communities and across the country. The National Education Association is a three-million-strong organization that represents educators, students, school employees and parents.
“When people make the time to read with children, children get the message that reading is important,” the Read Across America website explains. “Parents, members of your community, and local celebrities who make time to read at monthly or annual Read Across America celebrations to help motivate kids to read.”
Deptford council has a similar goal in mind when it comes to its version of the reading initiative.
“It’s a fun filled-day,” said Medany, “and everyone loves it.”
