(Featured photo: Wheeless Road Elementary School Principal Carl Robinson III reads to kindergartners. Charmain Z. Brackett/Augusta Good News)
A red monster lives in Cutesville – the only monster there.
It lives with cute, fluffy animals, and sometimes feels alone. But in Rachel Bright’s book, Love Monster, the monster does find someone to love.
On Oct. 19, Carl Robinson III, Wheeless Road Elementary School principal, read the book to a group of kindergarteners as part of Real Men Do Read Day at the school.
“You are unique,” Robinson told the pupils.
And he let them know that they were valuable.
“Love is here for you at Wheeless Road Elementary School,” he said.
Robinson then opened a discussion, taking a few questions from the students, and asking a few of his own. He asked them if they knew how old he was to be a principal. The answers ranged from 12 to 100. While he did not tell them his age, when one said “45,” Robinson said the student was close.
He answered questions about what he does as principal and told them the best part of his job was watching being there to watch students grow from kindergarten through fifth grade.
In addition to Robinson, other educators, Richmond Board of Education members, Westside High School JROTC cadets and community leaders picked up books and read to students at the school as part of the event.
“Reading is essential,” said Robinson. “In support of the reading initiative, we do ‘Real Men Do Read.’ It’s an opportunity for the community to come in and promote mentorship and connection and to show our students that gentlemen in the community do read.”
Robinson said that there will be another reading day later in the school year to bring in female leaders in the community for a “Beauty, Brains and Books Day.”
For an added incentive to get students to read this year, Robinson will kiss a pig if they meet their goals.
Fifth grader Cameron Bryant said he doesn’t need his principal to kiss a pig to get him to read though because he likes going to the school media center.
“I like to read comic books,” he said, adding that he liked chapter books too.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
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