So awesome.
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We’ve seen men rally for sports games and superhero movies, but rarely do we see the same amount of enthusiasm for education. Granted, it’s nobody’s fault; it’s hard to get pumped up about taking a test, but last Monday, hundreds of Mississippi dads did just that, and it made all the difference.
In an effort to encourage their students to take an interest in their education, McWillie Elementary School arranged for the fathers of the Jackson Public School District to join together and boost the morale of the little kids headed in to take their standardized tests.
McWillie Elementary School teamed with the Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) Support Scholars program to create the rally, with the goal of providing positive male role models for the kids as well as implementing additional security to decrease bullying. And the results were absolutely amazing.
Hundreds of not only dads, but uncles, grandfathers, and step-fathers alike banned together to make these kids feel just a little bit better about the scary test-taking day ahead.
“Sometimes, just knowing that others care about the success of our scholars is the motivation they need to cross the finish line into academic achievement,” District Coordinator Fredrick Nolan told The Huffington Post.
On that Monday morning, the father figures of Jackson, MS formed a tunnel for the children to walk through, offering high-fives, words of encouragement, and just cheering them on.
“It was a great atmosphere,” said Nolan. “It’s amazing how men will rally around a common cause and that morning it was about our children.”
Evident by the kids’ reactions and the adults who participated, the rally was a success.
As the principal of McWillie Elementary, Sara Harper, told The Huffington Post, “I think they felt … more encouraged and supported. When they see that parental support from their dads … they feel less stressed out about a state exam. It was exciting.”
And so unbelievably sweet. High-fives all around, dads, for that extra effort you put in and using your morale-boosting powers for good.
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This article originally appeared on Babble. For more like this from Babble, try:
Photo credit: Getty Images