Officers Read to Schoolchildren

Certain words by the late Theodor Geisel, better known as the children’s author Dr. Seuss, resonate with Oxnard Police Officer Jim Wood.

“You’re never too wacky, too wild. To pick up a book and read to a child,” Geisel wrote.

Wood has taken these words to heart by bringing Read Across America--the literacy campaign promoted each year by the National Education Assn. to mark the March 2 birthday of Geisel--to south Oxnard.

“The program, which is endorsed by President Clinton, involves adults visiting classrooms to read to children of all ages and impressing upon them the joy and importance of reading,” Wood said.

Wood, who participated in the NEA program last year, said he found the experience rewarding and began thinking that if the idea was good on Dr. Seuss’ birthday, it was probably good any time.

Oxnard Police Sgt. Martin Meyer, community affairs manager for the department, said, “Jim Wood discussed the idea with his boss, Senior Officer Scott Swenson, who is not only a beat coordinator in south Oxnard, but also a trustee for the Hueneme Elementary School District Board of Education.”

Meyer said Wood and Swenson then approached Ricardo Amador, principal of Art Haycox Elementary School in Oxnard, who accepted the suggestion with enthusiasm.

The pilot program is being implemented at the Perkins Road campus. Each Wednesday, an Oxnard police officer reads to a designated class.

“It’s a way of encouraging kids to develop a respect for reading,” Wood said. “And they remember that some police officer cared enough to read to them.”