Sen. Cochran gets a cheer, and students have fun with reading

Published 12:00 am Friday, October 31, 2008

If students at Beechwood Elementary School had their way, a duck would be elected president.

The pre-kindergarten through sixth-grade students have been participating in a week of reading motivation sponsored by the national organization Reading is Fundamental. Beechwood holds the event three times a year, each linked to a particular theme.

This week’s theme was “elect a good book,” and “Duck for President,” by Doreen Cronin, won, beating out “Grace for President,” by Kelly DiPucchio, “My Teacher for President,” by Kay Winters and “The Scrambled States of America,” by Laurie Keller.

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‘Reading is a pleasure but it is also a gift, and he who does not read good books is no better than one who cannot read them.’

MARK TWAIN

As quoted to students by Sen. Thad Cochran

The election party was Thursday in the red, white and blue festooned gym, attended by U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., who won high praise from the national program and loud cheers and applause from students.

“Back in February we heard that we’d lost a lot of money that we use to buy books for all of you,” Carol Rasco, RIF national president, told the assembled students, in reference to federal budget cuts. “We went right to work to get that money back, and we were helped by Senator Cochran more than anyone else.”

Rasco then revved up the student body to offer a loud thank you to the senator.

An allocation to RIF was not in President Bush’s recommended budget for this year, Rasco said. Cochran, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, assured the grant would be in the final bill. Among other projects, RIF supports school libraries and even provides students with books of their own.

“I’m proud of the work you have done here with Reading is Fundamental to make this a success,” Cochran told the students. He quoted Mark Twain, who said, “Reading is a pleasure but it is also a gift, and he who does not read good books is no better than one who cannot read them.”

The program also featured students in a short play, with a character dressed as Uncle Sam answering the election questions of a group of his classmates, short speeches by students dressed as former presidents and surprise appearances by presidential candidates “Barack Obama” and “John McCain,” who walked through the assembly waving and later took advantage of a photo opportunity with their fellow senator, Cochran.

Devin Bryant, 11, who played Uncle Sam, said it took about four days for him to learn his part. He likes books so much, he said, “I just can’t help reading.”

And 12-year-old Cannon Lampkin, who played McCain, said that “reading is fun — it helps you learn.” And yes, he added, “learning is fun.” The 12-year old’s favorite subject is math, even though it doesn’t involve a lot of reading. He was disappointed in the school’s vote on the best book of the three in competition. He said, “Scrambled States of America,” was “the best book I’ve ever read.”

After the assembly, each of the school’s 541 students chose from four large tables full of assorted books provided by the RIF Foundation.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for students to be able to receive free books from the RIF foundation,” said Jack Grogan, principal of the Vicksburg Warren School District elementary. “It’s also a great day for our school to be able to be recognized by the national organization. Our teachers work hard to encourage reading, and our students really enjoy getting the free books.”

Lead teacher and school literacy coach Melissa Rouse, who is in charge of the RIF program at Beechwood, echoed Grogan. “The joy on the students’ faces when they get to take a book home makes it all worthwhile. Our kids are so excited about reading.”

Rasco said Mississippi is notable for being the only state whose board of education has signed on to the RIF program.

With more than 14,000 RIF sites nationwide, having a large subgroup under the state umbrella has been wonderful, she said. In addition to schools, RIF provides books and motivational support to teen mothers, homeless shelters, detention centers hospitals and other institutions.

Beechwood is one of only two Mississippi schools recognized this fall for its efforts by RIF. The other was Barr Elementary in Jackson. “You have set an example that I’ll talk about in speeches for months and months to come,” Rasco told the school staff.

Rouse said a committee of teachers came up with the election theme. “We try to pick things that are going on at the time. Anything to get the kids motivated about reading.”

“It’s a treat to come out and celebrate the success of Reading is Fundamental,” Cochran said. “Obviously it’s a program that has excited the lives of many students here.”

Other Vicksburg schools that participate in RIF include Sherman Avenue, Dana Road and South Park.

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com.