Rep. Allen Peake reads to Bibb school students for Pre-K week

In honor of Georgia Pre-K week, state Rep. Allen Peake visited Carter Elementary School on Monday to read to students there.

“It’s important to start kids learning at an early age,” said Peake, R-Macon.

The official Pre-K week, organized by Voices for Georgia’s Children, a nonprofit child policy and advocacy organization, was actually celebrated last week, but Bibb students were out on fall break.

Georgia’s Pre-K Week is meant to give state leaders the opportunity to get first-hand experience on the type of learning that takes place in classrooms across the state. Numerous studies show that quality prekindergarten programs result in greater school success and an improved workforce, according to Voices for Georgia’s Children.

“As leaders in our community,” Peake said, it’s important to show that he and others are committed to encouraging students to read.

Peake brought two books about the lovable children’s character “Pete the Cat.”

“ ‘Pete the Cat’ ” has been a favorite of my granddaughter,” he said, noting that his granddaughter was also on hand for his reading at the school. “It’s animated, it’s fun, it’s got a song to it, and it helps kids learn that reading can be fun.”

He added, “I think it’s important that they see that they need to learn to read every day -- with their mom, their dad, with their grandparents, with their siblings.”

To contact writer writer David Schick, call 744-4382 or find him on Twitter @davidcschick.