Kindergarten students in Monica Hoovler’s classroom listen as Sgt. Patrick Williams reads “There was an old woman who swallowed a chick.”
Sgt. Patrick Williams of the Mansfield Police Department had a dual purpose in mind Wednesday morning as he read to kindergarten students at Prospect Elementary School.
“I want to share with kids the value of reading,” he said. “I hope too that I can break down some misconceptions and barriers some kids have about police officers.”
Nineteen children in Monica Hoovler’s classroom sat cross-legged (“criss-cross applesauce,” they call it) on a brightly colored carpet as Williams read, turning the book frequently to show the colorful illustrations.
“There was an old woman who swallowed a chick,” he began. “I don’t know why she swallowed that chick, but she didn’t get sick.”
The rhyming book went on to describe how she swallowed some straw, a colored egg, candy and other items before tripping and coughing up a complete basket into the arms of the Easter bunny. There were giggles as Williams read.
“Is this story fiction-fake or real?” Mrs. Hoovler asked as Williams finished.
“Fiction,” was the response.
“Was the story inside or outside?”
“Outside.”
Hoovler said she was glad Williams could share his time with her students before moving on to read to the other two kindergarten classes.
“It is important for them to see someone from the community who keeps us safe and also knows the value of reading,” she said.
Williams and his wife, Michelle, an English special education intervention specialist at Mansfield Senior High, have two daughters, ages 7 and 2.
Williams promotes reading with his older daughter and plans the same thing as the younger one grows. They stop at libraries when they travel.
“We visited the main branch of the Cleveland library after the Cavs celebration parade and we were at the main branch of the Cincinnati library over Labor Day weekend,” Williams said.
“I struggled with reading as a child. I was a slow reader. We always want it to be better for our next generation.”
Williams will continue this year to read at Prospect and at Sherman Elementary School on his days off. He is encouraging other officers to be volunteer readers too.
Children’s perception of police officers always is on Williams’ mind.
“In my involvement with SWAT I have been with detectives as they serve warrants. Sometimes when we come through the door there are small children present. I think about that,” he said.
“As I read to them I hope I can leave a positive impression. Next to their parents or other close family members, a police officer should be the first person a child can turn to.”