Across the country, special activities are being held this week in public schools as those schools highlight American Education Week.
WINSTON-SALEM -- Inside schools across the state and the country this week there's something going on and not just the usual reading, writing and arithmetic. Community leaders are reading to students as part of American Education Week.
Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th District, was down from Washington, D.C. on Tuesday to participate in activities at Latham Elementary School in Winston-Salem. She's a former teacher herself.
"The knowledge explosion is real with us, so whatever we can do to encourage children to read and learn, we need to be doing," said Foxx.
Other activities for the week include door decorating and writing contests, along with visits from community partners.
Rep. Virginia Foxx reads to fifth graders.
Educators are trying to underscore the need to provide every child with a quality education.
"We're trying to stress the importance that you can be anything you want to be but you need an education," said Latham principal Celena Clark. "We are preparing students for the 21st century, and [education] is very important."
Foxx's audience of fifth graders say they realize the importance of education and reading.
"I think reading is very important because if you don't read, you never learn," explained fifth grader Khiyla Blackman.
"It's great because it kind of gives exercise to the brain and it makes you smarter," added classmate Michael Avila.
As for Foxx's choice of a book about founding father Samuel Adams fifth grader Khiyla Blackman loved it.
"It was a pretty good book. [I'd give it an] A-plus!"