Locke Kids Around For Reading

Fri., Feb. 13, 1998

Associated Press

Gov. Gary Locke read “House Mouse, Senate Mouse,” a rhyming guide to the birth of a law, to children Thursday at the Yakima Public Library.

He was kicking off First Book, a program to encourage disadvantaged children to read.

About 25 children were given books.

Locke said promoting literacy was part of his emphasis on making education his top priority.

“It is the foundation of all future learning,” Locke said.

Less than half the state’s fourth-graders were able to meet new standards in reading comprehension tested last year, Locke said. In Yakima, less than 25 percent of the fourth-graders passed the test.

But Locke said he didn’t believe Washington’s public schools were failing, but rather that standards were being raised.

“House Mouse, Senate Mouse” is a children’s book by Peter and Cheryl Shaw.

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