FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
     
    S
      
    TATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
     
    F. PHILIP HANDY,
    Chairman
    T. WILLARD FAIR,
    Vice Chairman
     
    Members
    DONNA G. CALLAWAY
    JULIA L. JOHNSON
    ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ
    PHOEBE RAULERSON
    LINDA K. TAYLOR
     
    John L. Winn
    Commissioner of Education
     
     
      
     
      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    M E M O R A N D U M
     
    TO:
    School District Superintendents
     
    FROM: Jim
    Warford
     
    DATE:
    June 17, 2005
     
    SUBJECT:
    All Pro Dad’s Day
    One of the biggest challenges in our public school system is the lack of parental involvement; many
    parents are not connected with their children. The latest research shows most fathers only spend five and
    a half minutes a day talking with their kids as compared to the four hours they spend watching television.
    Numerous studies have shown that the more fathers are connected with their kids, the better their children
    do inside and outside the classroom. The more time they spend together, the better the report card. The
    quality of the father-child relationship predicts the child's behavior in school as well. Fathers who help
    their children with homework inspire their children to higher academic achievement.
    One way to increase fathers' involvement in public schools is to offer them an experience like All Pro
    Dad's Day, a program of Family First. It combines the familiarity of sports with important life lessons for
    fathers and their children. All Pro Dad's Day is a monthly event before school hours where fathers and
    their children meet with other dads and kids at the school cafeteria or a local restaurant for breakfast.
    They hear great speakers on a wide range of family topics, spend time together and are equipped with
    resources to strengthen their relationship. All Pro Dad’s will provide all the materials necessary for this
    event at no charge. Already, a number of Dad's Days are up and running in public schools around our
    state. The response from teachers and administrators has been excellent.
     
    I encourage you to go to http://www.allprodad.com/yourneighborhood.asp to get a free introductory DVD
    about the program and how you can get fathers more involved in your schools.
     
     
    JIM WARFORD
    K-12 CHANCELLOR
     
     
    325 W. GAINES STREET • SUITE 514 • TALLAHASSEE, FL 32399-0400 • (850) 245-0509 • www.fldoe.org
     
     

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