Pictured with Flat Stanley in this composite are (clockwise from top-left): Jets QBs Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow, Pepperell student Jordan Mayo, and former PHS football star and Jets tackle Marcus Dixon (contributed images).
Every year the second grade classes at Pepperell Primary read “Flat Stanley” as a part of their reading curriculum.
The children’s book is about a boy who became flattened when a bulletin board fell on him.
“He makes the best of a bad situation by helping people in unusual ways and he gets creative about things that he can now do,” explained teacher Peri Jones.
One of the things that Flat Stanley did was to visit people that lived in other cities, states or countries by folding himself up and mailing himself to the people’s homes — because it was cheaper than a plane ticket. Those people would let Stanley stay with them for a while and would show him around interesting areas and take photos of him in front of landmarks.
After reading and discussing the story, each student makes a Flat Stanley character and then mails him to a friend or relative that lives in another city, state or country. The students also write letters to accompany their Flat Stanley.
After taking photos of Flat Stanley the friend or relative writes a letter back to the student and mails the photos, the letter and Flat Stanley back to the student at Pepperell Primary.
“This year I had several students who didn’t have anyone to send their Flat Stanley to, so we sent a class Flat Stanley to Marcus to take photos of him in New York,” said Jones, reffering to former Pepperell High football star and current New York Jets defensive tackle Marcus Dixon.
“We were so excited and thrilled when we got the photos and saw that not only had our Flat Stanley visited the New York Jets’ facility and Marcus, but that Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez had also helped with our reading project by posing with him in front of their lockers one day after practice!” she said. “This is something that my students will never forget.”
Jones and her students made a poster with the posters, and she said it mean a lot to her second-graders to know that these professional football players think that reading is important.
“We feel so proud that they took the time to help our class out,” she said.
Pepperell Primary student Jordan Mayo created the Flat Stanley that made the trip to New York.
I have 4 children and I think all 3 men make for a fine role model for them.
Great idea with a lot of creativity.
Marcus Dixon made a bad decision when he was a kid and MORE than paid for it. He could be bitter and nasty but he isn't.
As for being a role model, I don't know, I don't know him personally. I'm guessing you probably don't either.
If you wish to debate, refute RWeber's point of view with counterpoints. By accusing him of making comments that are "useless" and "ignorant" you are no longer debating or proving your point. You are simply insulting him. Of course you have the right to disagree. It's OK that you disagree. But these type of personal attacks do nothing to further the discussion about a news story that was supposed to simply be a feel-good story about something really nice.
I don't believe it's really necessary to bring up something Dixon did many years ago in his youth; something in which most teenage boys participate if given the opportunity. We could debate his court case all over again, but I stand by my contention that overall, he's a nice young man, who went through tremendous adversity and came out OK, despite his youthful indiscretion. However, if that's your point of contention, why don't you make it without personally attacking someone else. It makes for a much more productive discussion.