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Published: March 10, 2010
By Jim Ridolphi
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Even in an exploding technological environment, an old fashioned letter can still achieve some pretty amazing results.

Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell took time out of a busy schedule Thursday to visit a class of fifth-graders at Battlefield Park Elementary School in Mechanicsville.

The visit was prompted by a personal written request composed by Tori Proost, a member of the class.

“I thought it would be cool if he could come to our school and read,” Proost said. After posing for pictures with the governor, Tori said the event “was very exciting.”

In December, Tori wrote the governor and asked him to read to her class from a book featuring the story of Jamestown.

With Reading Across America in full swing last week, the governor made good on his promise and was greeted by a class of elated students.

Fifth-grade teacher Pam Franklin and Special Ed teacher Wayne Saunders said the governor is not the first notable figure to visit the language arts class.

“Superintendent (Dr. Stewart D.) Roberson is coming tomorrow, and we had Nutzy the Squirrel (mascot from the Richmond Flying Squirrels baseball team) come and visit,” Franklin said.

Saunders said the class wrote letters in December as part of an assignment.

“One of the writing assignments was to write a letter inviting folks to come and read to the class. The governor accepted and he and his wife came to read.”

The governor, 45 days into his administration, told the students to have high expectations and the possibilities are endless.

“I hope you all will dream big,” McDonnell said. “When I was a young person, I never thought I’d grow up to follow in the footsteps of Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson.”

The governor read from “Jamestown, the First English Colony,” and the First Lady also took a turn followed by a question and answer period.

The students were ready with precise and relevant questions that even impressed the governor.

“I think you guys practiced on this,” McDonnell said. “You’ve asked some great questions. Unlike some reporters, the questions are short and to the point,” he joked.

Some of the questions revealed a portion of the governor’s life often ignored by the mainstream media. When asked about his favorite food, McDonnell immediately answered “Spaghetti, but close behind is Chinese food,” he said.

Another student asked the governor how school has changed since his days in fifth grade at Woodley Elementary in Fairfax.

Although the desks and books look basically the same, McDonnell said school has changed.

“We didn’t have the Internet or personal computers,” he said. “The world had changed tremendously since I was in fifth grade and it will be dramatically changed with the advances in technology and medicine in the 40 years it will take you to get my age.”

McDonnell said his dream job as a child was to be an astronaut, but he’s resigned to earth-bound pursuits for now.

The governor answered every question and then went row to row signing an autograph for every student.

He even took time to lead a chorus of “Happy Birthday” to the class teacher.

The governor ended the event by suggesting students consider a career in public service, a choice he believes is vital to our nation and state’s future.

“In the end, you want to look back and think did I do something that helped other people. Did I make my community, my family, my neighborhood, my state and my country a little better? I encourage you to dream big.”

Battlefield Park principal Judith Bradley said the visit will make a lasting memory for her school and its students.

“March 4 will be a day that Battlefield Park Elementary will never forget,” she said. “The students were thrilled and full of joy that the Governor and the First Lady accepted the invitation to come and read to Mrs. Franklin’s class.  As a principal I am so proud of our students and their achievements. This will be one experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”  

Jim Ridolphi
Tori Proost, left, invited Gov. Bob McDonnell and First Lady Maureen McDonnell to visit Battlefield Park Elementary School to read to her fifth-grade class.

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