[Press Release]
On September 17, 2013, Niagara Falls City Schools, Catholic Academy, and Niagara County Headstart will participate in the community’s third annual Dads Take Your Child To School Day. Fathers and other men of importance in the lives of children are encouraged to bring that child to school at the regular time that morning, and spend a little time in the school with other men in attendance.
Niagara Falls’ participation is part of the Statewide event now in its seventh year, and is a cousin to the nation-wide Million Father March, now in its ninth year. The aim is to make men feel welcome and involved in children’s education.
Research shows some powerful, positive effects of men being involved in children’s schools, including students receiving higher grades, being less likelihood to drop out, or repeating a grade.
Plenty of people in the community are lining up to support men’s involvement in schools by taking part in the event, including Senator George Maziarz, Legislators Dennis Virtuoso and Owen Steed, Sheriff James Voutour, Mayor Paul Dyster, Councilmember Charles Walker, NFPD Officers, and the NFHS Football Wolverines. Participants will be at various schools greeting men.
Donations for door prizes have been received from the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, the Carrousel Museum, Maid of the Mist, and Niagara University. More are anticipated. In addition, each attendee will receive a bumper sticker and a magnet.
In addition to the educational partners, agencies taking part include Focus on Families, Family & Children’s of Niagara, the Niagara Falls Police Department, and the Niagara Falls Housing Authority.
“In no way are we diminishing the importance of moms and women in children’s lives,” organizer and District Community Relations Director Judie Glaser said. “We are taking this day to highlight the importance of men in what traditionally has been an area where we see more females than males—the school.”
At nearly 1,000 men, participation last year nearly doubled that of 2011, which was the first year Niagara Falls took part.
All are welcome to take part in the September 17 event.
