Q: What is Father's Day?
A: Father's Day is a time to celebrate and appreciate the hard work that fathers do for their children and families. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the holiday began in 1909, when Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, listened to a Mother's Day sermon and decided she wanted a special day to honor her widowed father with six children. Her initiative led the mayor of Spokane to proclaim June 19, 1910, as Father's Day. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. Father's Day became a permanent holiday under President Nixon in 1972.
Q: Why are fathers so important to a child's life?
A: A father's role in his child's life is very important. President Obama's address to Congress earlier this year highlighted one of the most important ways a father can positively influence his children. President Obama talked about the need for more parental responsibility in their children's education. The president is right and I will work whole-heartedly with him on this issue. This type of involvement is extremely necessary and won't cost taxpayers a penny. Supporting the improvement of parental involvement is not a small task. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated that there are 64.3 million fathers in the United States. But, according to a 2002 U.S. Department of Education study, only 28.7 percent of fathers ages 15 – 44 who lived at home helped their school-age children with homework or checked that they did homework on a daily basis. We can do better. We can play an important role in a child's education. Reading to your child, establishing a daily homework routine, helping them with chores and other activities, and participating in school functions are great ways to get involved. Even things as simple as sharing a meal or talking about each other's day provide valuable interactions between a father and son or daughter that can help a child succeed. After all, a father seeing their child succeed is really the best Father's Day gift anyone could ask for.