In a local partnership with the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) and the National Education Association (NEA), the Town of Harrison will participate in this year’s annual Read Across America Program.  The program is a “signature literacy effort” in helping children develop a love of reading and performance in schools, by the NEA. The official launch is on March 2, coinciding the birthday of Dr. Seuss.

This year, the NEA decided on the launch by highlighting the contributions and the messages proliferated by the late Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss- the celebrated essayist, cartoonist, poet, and author of 46 children’s books.

“NEA’s national Read Across America celebration is not just about one hour or one day of reading,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel.  “It is about cultivating a lifetime of good reading habits in students that will translate into academic success.”

“Read Across America Tour brings students, parents, educators and the entire community together to share the joy of reading,” added Van Roekel.

The NEA describes Read Across America as “...an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading...”

The 2012 national effort has been partly supported by the Mazda corporation. As well as being endorsed by a who’s who of celebrities, including Zac Efron, Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle and Betty White.

Locally, the Mayor’s office of Harrison, and the town’s Council has called on its citizens to assure that every child is in a safe place reading together with a caring adult on March 2, and to participate in this honorable and important endeavor.

“We enthusiastically endorse NEA'S Read Across America and Read Across America-NJ. And recommits our community to engage in programs and activities to making America’s [and Harrision’s] children the best readers” they can be.

An expected 45 million plus readers, both young and old, to pick up a book and read.

Jason Kim for DailyHarrison.com | Contact Jason @jasonsjkim

Photo Credit: Katherna/Flickr