FRANKLIN, Vt. (WCAX) – Seventy-four-year-old David Pratt has a class full of young admirers at the Franklin Central School, a mostly farming community next to the Canadian border.
“In every crowd there are instigators, and apparently these two qualified for that,” Pratt said, referring to students Charlotte and Graham Godin. The twins could be Pratt’s favorite fans.
“Well, he reads to us, and most of the time he can be really funny,” said Charlotte.
Pratt, a Navy vet, grew up in Bennington. He has a daughter and a grandchild. At the school, he’s part of the Foster Grandparents program, working in teacher Laura Sullivan’s third-grade class.
“His favorite thing he likes to do with them is to read and listening to their writing that they’ll share,” Sullivan said.
“He’s a really awesome helper,” Charlotte said.
“He has a really good personality,” added Graham.
Reporter Joe Carroll: So, the kids chatted about you and said some good things.
David Pratt: These kids follow instructions very well.
Not only did they chat, but they wrote a letter nominating Pratt to be a WCAX Super Senior.
“It’s pretty cool, ‘cause I’ve watched a lot of them,” Charlotte said.
“‘He likes to read with me and be goofy. I hope he gets nominated,’” Graham said, reading from his letter.
‘”I want to nominate Mr. Pratt because he’s an awesome teacher. I like that Mr. Pratt loves to make kids laugh and likes to read with kids, too,’” Charlotte said, reading from her letter.
The notes were their mom’s idea but the words are all theirs. “I don’t want to upset you or anything, but this isn’t the first note that I’ve gotten from them, okay? I’ve gotten others,” Pratt said. “Apparently, you’ve been writing letters to WCAX.”
Pratt may be the class cut-up, but with age does come wisdom. “Aging is a process — we all know — in that the more you do or the more you give, it gives it back to you. And I really think that helps in longevity,” he said.
Words to live by.