Washington students show their interests, hobbies

By GUY PRIEL

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- In observance of the final day of National Education Week on Friday, students at Washington Elementary School dressed in outfits expressing their interests and hobbies.

Some students wore t-shirts with their interest, such as Girl Scouts, the New Ulm Youth Orchestra, or camouflaged shirts, representing hunting as an interest.

Others wore hockey shirts representing either their favorite team, or their local team.

Others arrived at school with an entire outfit representing their hobby or interest, such as a gymnastic leotard, or sparkling dance outfits, representing membership in Just for Kix.

One student, Emily Olstad of Hanska, a fourth-grade student in Dianna Andersen's class, wore a dress representing her interest in the Syttende Mai dancing group that performs at the annual Syttende Mai celebration in Hanska.

The costumes were worn Friday for Pride in Myself Day, which encouraged students to wear clothing that represented their talent or interest.

"We have done something different every day this week in celebration of American Education Week," Washington Elementary School Principal Randy Voth said. "One day they wore shirts representing a local business. There were a lot of Kraft shirts and 3-M shirts worn that day."

The goal was to highlight different activities that students are proud of as they celebrated education in America and New Ulm throughout the week. Parents also spent time eating lunch with the students as part of American Education Week. The theme for this year's event was Children-Schools-Parents Helping Students Achieve.

On Monday, the students dressed in red, white and blue for Pride in America Week. On Tuesday they dressed in purple and white for Pride in District 88 Day. On Wednesday they dressed in Washington Elementary sweatshirts and t-shirts on Pride in Our School Day. On Thursday, they dressed in an outfit that represented a New Ulm business on Pride of Our Town Day.

American Education Week is designed to highlight the importance of education in the community. The theme for 2000 reflects that teaching and learning is a team effort.

American Education Week began in 1921 when people became concerned about the high number of illiterate and physically unfit people who were being drafted to serve in World War I.

Attempting to raise support for the importance of education, the American Legion and the National Education Association pushed to have one week a year designated as National Education Week.

The first observance was held Dec. 4-10, 1921. Beginning in 1929, a single theme was developed for the annual observance.