As a culminating activity to reading and learning about Helen Keller, an American educator who overcame the adversity of being blind and deaf to become one the 20th century’s leading humanitarians, Centre Avenue second-graders learned all about the life and service of a guide dog.

Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind Inc. representative Joan Lee visited the school, along with her service dog, Iggy. Mrs. Lee explained that golden and yellow Labradors and Standard poodles are the most commonly used breeds as guide dogs and that training costs approximately $50,000. She also demonstrated for students how Iggy helps her get around objects and helps her to find doorways. The second-graders had an opportunity to ask questions and learned a lot about guide dog etiquette. 

During the meeting, second-grade teacher Susan Glickman read the book “Guide Dog, Guide Dog” to students. She said meeting Mrs. Lee and Iggy provided the students with a real-life experience to reinforce what they were reading about in the classroom.