JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. -- Students all over Duval County headed back to school today, and many of them had a special person walk them to class..
Charlie Hurst grabbed his books, binder and backpack, and headed to school for his first day of seventh grade. But he wasn't alone this morning on his walk to school. Charlie's father David Hurst says, "Any opportunity to be with him is good. Whether its the first day or the twentieth day."
And David Hurst isn't the only dad who walked his son to school.. In fact millions of fathers around the nation are also taking their kids back to school. It's all apart of the Million Father March, a nationwide movement that started in Chicago eight years ago, to empower fathers and father figures to have a strong role in their children's education.
One Duval dad says, "I love to see her teachers. I love to interact with the kids and find out more about what's going on with the school. And find out if she really enjoys her class and her kids."
Since 2004, the movement has spread to more than 800 cities nationwide. Including Jacksonville. Father David Eggleston says, "He's my son and I want to know what kind of children he'll be around and I want to know what the school is like."
And it's a proven fact. Children with fathers involved in their education have higher test scores, higher grade point averages, higher graduation rates from high school and higher self esteem. "The more involved you are the better I think it is," says Hurst.
School officials are hoping this march will start a trend for fathers to volunteer more at school.
