Rotary To Present Dictionaries To Dothan Third Graders

The Dothan-Houston County Rotary Club is happy to announce their participation in an education grant from The Malone Family Foundation of Alabama. 

This grant will enable third grade students in Dothan City and Houston County School systems to have their own personal copy of a Webster's Student dictionary.  The Club's effort is part of a push by Rotary District 6880, which covers 31 counties in the southern half of Alabama, to make sure all 23,000 third graders attending approximately 400 elementary schools in the District receive a dictionary every year. 

Beginning in mid-September and completing by October 31^st, twenty-six members of the Dothan-Houston County Club will hand deliver the dictionaries to all third graders in eight area schools and give a presentation of the Rotary 4 Way Test, which reads:

Of the things we think, say, or do,

     Is it the TRUTH?

     Is it FAIR to all concerned?

     Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

     Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Dictionary Project Chairman, Whit Huskey, said "The annual third grade dictionary project is just one example of what we, as Rotarians, strive to do for our local community.  The third graders are always so excited to receive the dictionaries and, for most students, it presents them with their first opportunity to interact with and learn how to use a dictionary.  This project continues to be an important and successful cause for our club as an investment in our future."

Research indicates that third grade is the appropriate time for beginning use of a dictionary.  Also data shows that most third graders in Alabama do not have a personal dictionary.  Without access to a dictionary of their own, assignments inside and outside the classroom may be impeded.