The children of Pine Tree Elementary are celebrating reading month, and someone from the Michigan House of Representatives took interest enough to visit the school.
State Representative Brad Jacobsen, toting his book ‘Duck for President,? and another about Abe Lincoln, arrived at the school Monday, March 7 to read aloud to each grade.
Jacobsen visited the school to participate in several activities before, including gardening, and science projects, and said he saw the school’s reading month as an opportunity to stress the importance of being able to read, as well as the idea that the children could do anything they put their mind to.
‘I know a number of the staff there, and it’s a place that I kind of look at like one of my home base schools,? said Jacobsen. ‘At one point I thought about being a history teacher, so I jumped at the chance to come see the kids.?
‘I just think it’s nice to give back to the community, and really stress the necessity to have good communication skills.?
Jacobsen chose the books he did to stay in line with the theme that he was a government official, but said he felt Lincoln’s story was appropriate for the theme of reading.
‘The second part of the Lincoln book is about how he grew up in cabin with a dirt floor and with parents that couldn’t read, but went on to be president,? said Jacobsen. ‘I know these kids can do the same, and can accomplish anything they put their minds to.?
Jacobsen added he hoped teaching the kids about the importance of staying politically active would help increase the dwindling number of voters in the future.