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FLORENCE: Township mom brings daughters to work

By Amy Batista, Special Writer
   This year marked the 20th anniversary that children have spent the last Thursday in April discovering what professional work life is like through the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day program.
   The national program encourages parents and mentors to take their children to work in hopes of connecting what they learn in school with the real world and possibly inspiring them for greater things in the future.
   ”I want my children to know what mom does when she’s not home with them, and to understand how difficult it is to be a teacher,” said Teresa Sullivan, of Florence, and a Hightstown High School biology teacher. “I hope they will have a better appreciation for their own teachers and I hope they will understand why mom is sometimes so busy at home.”
   She said, “My oldest daughter has mentioned a few times that she is thinking about being a teacher, so being with me will give her a little bit of insight into what being a teacher really means.”
   Ms. Sullivan said, “My youngest had spent a few hours in school with me last year, but this was the first full day for her. My oldest had been at school with me after hours, but never during the day.”
   For Ms. Sullivan’s daughters and her students April 26 proved to be a unique and enjoyable experience.
   ”It was a fun day. My kids got to tour the school and see how big a high school could be, and my students got to spend time talking to my girls for a bit. My oldest asked a lot of questions about what its like to be in high school and to teach high school,” Ms. Sullivan said.
   She continued, “My youngest child has Downs Syndrome, and my students were able to ask questions of her, my oldest, and myself and learn what it’s like to live with someone who has Downs Syndrome and, hopefully, understand that my youngest, and others like her, are people first and not to judge others based on outward appearances or ‘label.’”