Mount men's soccer team reaches out to community
Irina Kuchevski
Issue date: 3/18/08 Section: News
National Education Association's annual Read Across America week began on March 3. During this week, the association holds special events that encourage children all over the country to read. This year, eleven members of the Mount's Mens Soccer Team contributed to this effort by visiting Fairfield Area Elementary School and reading to groups of kindergarten children.
Though the event satisfied the team's requirement for community service, the athletes clearly enjoyed themselves.
"It was a cool experience to read to the kids and see how much fun they were having, knowing we were impacting their lives, even if it was to a small extent," freshman Eric Detzel said.
Two kindergarten classes combined for the visit. The athletes allowed the kindergartners to choose which books they wanted to read. After a brief introduction, during which coach Ryerson mentioned soccer and reading, each athlete paired off with three or four children, and the reading began.
"It was a nice thing to do for the kids. We read Dr. Seuss, and we touched their hearts," junior Vincent Berry said.
According to Reg Weaver, the President of the National Education Association, "The first time a parent, grandparent, or sibling picks up a book and opens it with a child, the future burns brighter."
In his March radio address timed to coincide with NEA's Read Across America, Weaver says the 11-year history of the event fits well into the century-and-a-half mission of the 3.2 million-member Association.
"The pictures and sounds of reading build a foundation of achievement in both school and life," Weaver said.
The experience would not be complete without a bit of soccer. After each group was finished reading, the team gathered together for a skills and tricks performance for the kids. Both the athletes and the kindergartners thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
Though the event satisfied the team's requirement for community service, the athletes clearly enjoyed themselves.
"It was a cool experience to read to the kids and see how much fun they were having, knowing we were impacting their lives, even if it was to a small extent," freshman Eric Detzel said.
Two kindergarten classes combined for the visit. The athletes allowed the kindergartners to choose which books they wanted to read. After a brief introduction, during which coach Ryerson mentioned soccer and reading, each athlete paired off with three or four children, and the reading began.
"It was a nice thing to do for the kids. We read Dr. Seuss, and we touched their hearts," junior Vincent Berry said.
According to Reg Weaver, the President of the National Education Association, "The first time a parent, grandparent, or sibling picks up a book and opens it with a child, the future burns brighter."
In his March radio address timed to coincide with NEA's Read Across America, Weaver says the 11-year history of the event fits well into the century-and-a-half mission of the 3.2 million-member Association.
"The pictures and sounds of reading build a foundation of achievement in both school and life," Weaver said.
The experience would not be complete without a bit of soccer. After each group was finished reading, the team gathered together for a skills and tricks performance for the kids. Both the athletes and the kindergartners thoroughly enjoyed themselves.
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