Friday, May 8th. Before the school year draws to a close and summer vacation takes over, it’s time to say thanks to America’s teachers. This is the last day of PTA Teacher Appreciation Week. National Teacher Day was on Tuesday. The goal of both is to honor the dedication and valuable contributions teachers make to the rest of their students’ lives. The idea goes back to 1944, when Mattye Woodridge of Arkansas began lobbying for a day to honor teachers. With the help of Eleanor Roosevelt, the first National Teacher Day was held in 1953. Now, there are more than 58 million students enrolled in kindergarten and nursery schools up through high schools across the country, guided by about 3.1 million teachers. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
Saturday, May 9th. National Pet Week ends today, and Be Kind to Animals Week winds up tomorrow. While pets are a source of companionship, many dogs provide protection and act as eyes for the blind. Less is expected of cats, who keep humans as household staff. Dogs are found in well over one-third of U.S. homes, cats in slightly less than one-third. Those favoring cats usually have more of them, thus there are 74 million household cats versus about 70 million dogs. Among other companion animals, we have over 8 million birds, 3.3 million rabbits, and 1.1 million lizards. Animal food manufacturing is a nearly $61 billion a year business in the U.S. for some 1,700 establishments. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
Sunday, May 10th. Today is Mother’s Day — one of the nation’s most revered national observances, with meaning beyond flowers, cards, and brunches. The idea started in 1908 with Anna Jarvis of West Virginia to honor her deceased mother — who had hoped that there would come a day to commemorate all mothers. By 1911, every state observed Mother’s Day, and in 1914, Congress made it a national event. It’s estimated there are upwards of 85 million living mothers across the U.S. In recent years, around 4.2 million babies annually are delivered of women between ages 15 and 50. The national mean age of women giving birth for the first time is 26 years. In 1970, the average age of first-time mothers was just under 21½ years. Profile America is beginning its 19th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all the great women who have sacrificed their careers and dreams to raise their children in a manner that makes them respectful and hardworking……and not sitting around the DSS Dept. waiting to see what handouts they are giving away this month.
The MOTHER is the backbone of a healthy and productive home…..sorry men! W/O women….the men wouldn’t exist!!! No matter what Left Fielder and others who get “keyboard muscles” when they get to typing on HiH!!!
I hope all the MOTHER’S who have done right by their children enjoy this special day…..b/c you are truly SPECIAL!!!!