Erin Smith, Staff Writer

Bladen County Schools received $3.3 million last week for the Early Reading First program to be shared with Columbus County. A group of 126 third and fourth grade classes of Elizabethtown Primary School watched the presentation of the check and got a civics lesson as part of the “Classroom for Congress” program by special guest, U. S. Congressman Mike McIntyre.

The group sat quietly but eagerly as Principal Kent Allen welcomed McIntyre, Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Dinkins, and others.

As Dinkins introduced McIntyre to the students, he encouraged them to study hard.

“You need to study very hard so one day when you get to be Congressman, you can work just as hard as he does,” said Dinkins.

The congressman interacted with the students on the topic of what it means to be a citizen and how the federal government functions as part of the “Classroom for Congress” program. He explained to the group the importance of the elections and asked for a show of hands of the students who were familiar with the television coverage of the debates and primaries. Surprisingly, many of the students raised their hands.

“Its a big year for our country. We elect a new president and vice president and in North Carolina we elect a new governor,” said McIntyre. “So how does this affect you?”

The congressman asked the students to explain what freedoms they have. He called on various students who enthusiastically gave answers ranging from the freedom to travel and the freedom to vote to the freedom of speech and the freedom to worship. McIntyre discussed citizenship and how these rights effect everyone by using a baseball analogy to illustrate his points.

“You are all guaranteed the right to bat,” he reminded and the students agreed.

He asked the students what happens if one player decides to run straight to third base then back to home plate instead of running the bases as the rules specify. The students explained there are rules to go by that explain the order the bases are to be run and if a plyer runs straight to third base, then returns to home plate, the run will not count.

McIntyre made the analogy to the rules as being similar to how laws work.

“We have laws to protect those rights,” said McIntyre as he began to explain to the group how the three branches of government work together.

Once he completed his civics lesson with the students, he presented Allen with two calendars. He explained to the students that the calendars have explanations for each day of the year of something someone did to make this country better. McIntyre encouraged the students to check the calendar each day to learn what special things happened on each day. Once McIntyre completed his remarks, he was presented with a Bladen County Schools sweatshirt by Dr. Dinkins.

Dr. David Jordan, federal program coordinator for Bladen County Schools, explained the Early Reading First grant to the students, teachers and staff present before Congressman McIntyre made his presentation. The grant is an effort to enhance early language, literacy, and reading development in 4-year-old Pre-Kindergarten students. The program utilizes language and literacy activities designed to develop speaking skills, print awareness, alphabet knowledge and phonics skills.

The funds will be used “to enhance literacy in our Pre-K students, and with the aid of this grant, we hope to do great things with our 4-year-olds,” he said.