DC elementary principal urges dads to take kids to school on first day

An elementary school principal in Washington, D.C., urged fathers to take their children to school when classes opened today.

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Kennard Branch, principal at Garfield Elementary School, and his staff will welcome 320 students when classes begin, WUSA reported. The principal wants dads to get involved right away.

"We're making Mon. Aug. 26th the official date for this year's Dads Take Your Child To School Day." Branch tweeted. "We're asking our dads and father-figures to bring their child to school on the 1st day."

Branch told WUSA that while the national day for fathers to take their children to school is traditionally celebrated on Sept. 25, he moved the date up for his school because he believes a father's engagement is beneficial for student achievement.

“It gets us to be able to show how involved they (fathers) are in the community, how involved they are in their child's education,” Branch told the television station. “Our kids will see that their dads really value education and learn to take this seriously as a business."

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