Today President Obama made a surprise visit to Viers Mill Elementary School in Maryland. The students were thrilled (clearly the indoctrination has been full and complete there." One of the students even stated: "This is the best day of my life - in school."
According to the pool report President Obama had this to say:
I'm very proud of you. I am hoping that you guys will continue to read, read, read, and that all of you are going to be really working hard not just this year but all the way through high school and then all the way through college, because how many people here plan to go to college? Everybody, right? I just wanted to make sure everybody's going to college. But that means everybody's going to have to work hard.
As an avid reader, I'm glad that this school's motto is "Read! Read! Read!" I remember I've always loved books. the first book I remember reading is an adaptation of Disney's Cinderella (I actually STILL have it, torn and battered as it is). My brother would be playing video games, and I'd be reading a book. In fact, my room right now greatly resembles a library, I have close to 700 books by now. In fact, I literally NEVER leave home without a book in my purse (you never know when you'll have a long wait). My guilty pleasure right now is Historical Romance Novels, not only do I get a pretty good story most of the times, but the authors of those books actually throw REAL history in there (I think my fav is Beverly Jenkins).
The school Pres. Obama visited is doing great things in education:
White House press aide Ben Finkenbinder told reporters that in 2005 Viers Mill became the first Title I school in Montgomery County to win the National Blue Ribbon for significantly closing the achievement gap.
"This is just a great example of how much improvement a school can make in a really short time when you've got motivated kids," Obama said.
Source
If you don't know what the achievement gap is, according to the National Governors Association:
The "achievement gap" is a matter of race and class. Across the U.S., a gap in academic achievement persists between minority and disadvantaged students and their white counterparts. This is one of the most pressing education-policy challenges that states currently face.
I may write another diary on closing the achievement gap, it's worthy of it's own diary.
I'm sure you guys are expecting pics from today, so here ya go:
So what were some of your favorite books as children? What do you like to read now?