ATLANTA—Big VIPS came to Jean Childs Young Middle School in Atlanta on Monday, March 8. Mayor Kasim Reed, U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert Groves, and Clifford the Big Red Dog spoke to kick off the 2010 Census and the Census in Schools program. Clifford is the hero of scores of books and an animated series. The officials called on the patriotism and the self interest of the students.
“This is one of the prettiest schools I’ve seen. Schools like this are connected to the census,” said Groves. Federal money as well as political representation is based on census numbers. He told the students he had personally signed 120 million letters, which were about to go out to households across the country, and his hand was tired.
“They will tell you to look out next week for the questionnaire. You are too young to vote, too young to serve your country in law enforcement or the military. But you can serve your country by telling your parents to fill out the census form.”
Groves told them they could stand up and be part of history, by making sure they are counted in the census. “You will be part of the new portrait of the country that we are drawing.”
“This is one of the prettiest schools I’ve seen. Schools like this are connected to the census,” said Groves. Federal money as well as political representation is based on census numbers. He told the students he had personally signed 120 million letters, which were about to go out to households across the country, and his hand was tired.
“They will tell you to look out next week for the questionnaire. You are too young to vote, too young to serve your country in law enforcement or the military. But you can serve your country by telling your parents to fill out the census form.”
Groves told them they could stand up and be part of history, by making sure they are counted in the census. “You will be part of the new portrait of the country that we are drawing.”
