AREA SCHOOLS CELEBRATING EDUCATION WEEK

Two area schools will join thousands of teachers, students and educational organizations in celebrating American Education this week.

Washington and Franklin schools each have activities planned in recognition of American Education Week, which continues through Saturday. Open house events will be held at both schools this week in addition to various other activities.

This is the 78th annual celebration of American Education Week, which is sponsored by 13 national organizations, including the U.S. Department of Education. The theme is "Students Today, Leaders Tomorrow.""We will be delivering goodies to all of the teachers in the elementary and secondary buildings throughout the district to show our appreciation of all the hard work they do," said Carol Brice, president of the Cape Girardeau Community Teachers Association.

The event was organized in 1921 after it was revealed that a quarter of the nation's World War I draftees were illiterate. Educators decided to raise awareness of the role of public education."The level of education in the United States was shockingly low," said Bob Chase, president of the National Education Association. "That's why war veterans in the American Legion teamed up with the National Education Association to create American Education Week.""We are asking students to perform at the highest levels in our nation's history, and helping students reach that bar requires the support and involvement of the entire community," Chase said.