Our View

The staff at Herbertsville Elementary School last week went to work with their hard hats on — literally.

School faculty dressed as construction workers June 18 in keeping with the theme of this year’s "Reading Builds Learners" program.

The teachers promised they would come to school dressed that way if the tiny school’s 292 students read at least 10,180 books.

Herbertsville Elementary School Principal Alyce Anderson added some spice to the pot by vowing to read the students a story from the roof of the building’s recently completed addition if they pulled off this difficult feat.

These small incentives, combined with the students’ willingness to learn and participate, were enough to encourage them to read an amazing average of 44.5 books per pupil this year.

The lofty reading target set by Mayor Joseph Scarpelli was smashed, as the group read a documented 12,994 books.

The Herbertsville faculty fostered amazing results from these students by making the learning experience fun for them. And as Superintendent of Schools Thomas Seidenberger said, the students may have gained an appreciation for one of the great, free joys in life in the process: reading.

It’s hard to imagine what kind of goal this group will set next year, but we’re not willing to bet against them.

Congratulations to the students of Herbertsville Elementary School on this outstanding achievement. Here’s to inquiring minds, the greatest assets of all.