Monday, February 5, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Shares His Love for Reading with California Third Graders
CALIFORNIA–Gov. Matt Blunt today visited California Elementary School in Moniteau County where he read to third grade students and talked about the importance of reading.
“Reading provides learning opportunities and enjoyment that last a lifetime,” Blunt said. “I have encouraged students of every age to become lifelong readers.”
During his visit with local third graders the governor read the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. Blunt encouraged the students to spend at least twenty minutes a night reading.
The governor is committed to ensuring that Missouri’s children receive a world class education and are well prepared to succeed in the global economy. Blunt’s budget requests an additional $214 million for elementary and secondary schools, increasing funding for education by more than half a billion dollars over three years.
“Education is my highest priority as Missouri’s governor,” Blunt said. “As promised, we have increased funding for education each year I have been in office. We owe it to our students, such as the third graders I visited today, to continue improving the quality of public education in Missouri.”
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