Importance of Reading Stressed to Students Within DEA Omaha Division
A member of the DEA Omaha Division Office reads to students at a local school in Nebraska.
OMAHA, NE – Members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Omaha Division visited more than 2,500 elementary students in March for Read Across America Week. During visits, DEA staff read to students, discussed the importance of reading in their jobs and talked about the dangers and consequences of drug use.
“It may come as a surprise to some students, but reading plays a big role in the world of law enforcement,” DEA Omaha Division Special Agent in Charge Justin C. King said. “Kids often think of us working the streets and making arrests. What they may not realize is the vast amount of reading and writing involved in DEA investigations.
Read Across America Week provides a great opportunity for our investigators and staff to connect with students in our communities, while also talking about the importance of reading.”
Students at schools in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota enjoyed hearing from books like “Green Eggs and Ham,” “The Cat and the Hat,” and “The Cool Bean,” and were given pencils and bookmarks to remember their time with DEA.
Read Across America Week traditionally begins March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, and runs through March 6. Launched in 1998 by the National Education Association, the program has expanded into a month long celebration of reading. This year, President Joesph Biden issued a proclamation declaring March 2, as Read Across America Day.
“We celebrate the books that inspire our children to dream big, expand the limits of their understanding, and explore diverse perspectives and cultures through the eyes of others,” reads the proclamation. “We also honor educators, parents, librarians, authors, mentors, and everyone who fosters the power of reading to open doors of opportunity and build greater awareness about the complex world around us.”
