Mail to the Chief

(January 13, 2009 / Riverhead, NY) As the nation prepares to inaugurate a new president, a national initiative dubbed “Mail to the Chief” was used as a vehicle to celebrate National Handwriting Day (January 23rd). This program invited children to submit handwritten letters of advice to President-Elect Barack Obama. The organizers offered children an opportunity to have their voices heard.

“With the inauguration now only days away, participating in the ‘Mail to the Chief’ program was a great way to focus our students on this historic event,” notes Aquebogue Principal Phil Kent. “Writing their letters reinforced their language arts skills and handwriting skills. Reading their letters at an assembly also gave the students an opportunity to not only compose a message, but also to read it to a group, which reinforces their reading, speaking and listening skills.”

Many students in the Aquebogue Elementary School participated in this program and several of them echoed Peter Panciocco’s concern about ending the war in Iraq: “President Obama, the issue that I think is most important is the war in Iraq. I think of this issue as most important because many people have died. You should address this issue . . . for our country . . . we need peace.”

Others raised issues of health, hunger, homelessness, jobs, global warming and pollution. Hanna Morreale (age 6) used her letter to encourage President Obama. Hanna wrote, “Dear President Obama, Can you be the best president in the whole wide world? YES YOU CAN!!!!! You are the best!” (Click on picture to read letter.)

“I was very proud of these students,” shared Literacy Coach Katy Pettit after the assembly. “Some of the students who read today have made great strides in reading and writing since last year. The fact that they were willing to read their letter to a large group of students was a big step forward for some of them.”

The handwritten letters will be hand-delivered by the staff of "Handwriting Without Tears," an educational curriculum company, to the White House on January 23rd (National Handwriting Day).

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Related link: Mail to the Chief