Education

The Carroll County Public Library and the Carroll County Early Childhood Council held its latest Panther Tot event “Down on the farm,” Sept. 10 at Point Park. The early literacy event was for children from birth to five years old and featured a BBQ dinner, a petting farm, live music and learning activities. Two hundred and fifty children and their families attended the event, and each child received a free book.

In older times, many children did not begin learning to read until they started school, and “starting school” meant going to first grade. Everyone did not attend kindergarten, and all-day kindergarten was a rarity indeed. Preschool was almost unheard of.

Contrast this with today’s emphasis on early learning, and it is clear that many things have changed.

Students in Cartmell Elementary teacher Samantha Abercrombie’s fifth grade class are combining exercise and learning thanks to a $2,800 grant. 

The Walking Classroom is a national award-winning education program that provides students and teachers with an innovative way to get exercise without sacrificing instructional time, according to its website. The nonprofit program’s “Walk, Listen, and Learn” methodology capitalizes on the favorable link between exercise and cognitive function.