Friday, April 17, 1998 | 5:42 a.m.
First-graders at Paradise Elementary School grilled Barbara Bush with tough questions Friday after the former first lady read them a story.
But the questions indicated the kids were more interested in Millie, the former first dog, than in George, the former president.
While still in the White House, Barbara Bush wrote a best selling book about the presidency from the point of view of Millie, the first family's springer spaniel.
"Millie has gone to heaven," said Bush, using a common euphemism to delicately guard the tender feelings of the 45 youngsters sitting cross-legged on the floor at her feet.
"You mean she died?" blurted one of the children.
Millie died at age 13 last May, but Bush comforted the children with the knowledge that the dog once had a litter of six puppies.
"When do you visit your puppies and grandchildren?" a student wanted to know.
Another student asked Bush what was her favorite book.
"Amazing Grace," she replied, much to the delight of many of the children.
"I have that book," chirped a little girl.
"I have the video," squealed another, "Grace Under Fire."
The wife of former president George Bush was in Las Vegas Friday to speak at the UNLV Foundation's annual dinner at The Mirage. The event has been conducted each year since 1989 to recognize individuals and businesses whose contributions support programs at UNLV. The dinner is by invitation only to members of the foundation groups who contribute $1,000 or more.
Friday afternoon, Bush stopped at Paradise Elementary School to read to students. Since leaving the White House in 1993, Bush has been involved in numerous public service activities but has focused on literacy.
"It's very important for everyone to read to the children -- mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters and brothers," said Bush. "Read to the children all the time -- start when they are born. Keep lots of reading material around the house."
Children who are read to and are exposed to reading material have a head start when they begin school, said Bush.
In 1990, Bush helped develop the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and currently is its honorary chairman and hosts its annual fund-raiser, "A Celebration of Reading."
The foundation's goal is to support the development of family literacy programs.
She visits literacy programs across the country -- in schools, housing projects, organizations and businesses -- to focus public attention on the impact reading has on self-esteem and family dynamics.
"I'm a symbol," said the former first lady, who took obvious delight in reading to the children, who in turn were attentive and somewhat awestruck, although most of them had either not been born or were toddlers when George and Barbara Bush left the White House.
Trudi Abell, Paradise principal, said students were excited about Bush's visit.
"This is the first dignitary to visit here," she said. "I think this will have an impact on them."
She said most of the students didn't know what a first lady was at first, but before the visit they were instructed.
"We taught them she was as important as the president," said Abell.
But the children weren't taught that the president was as important as the first dog.
There are plans to relocate Paradise Elementary, which is on Tropicana Avenue south of the university, to a new building on the UNLV campus. The move would be made this fall. The old elementary school building will be used temporarily by the new university law school. The law school will move into the old UNLV library building sometime after a new $50.5 million library opens in January, 2000.
UNLV President Carol Harter, who was among officials present when Bush read the book "Chrysanthemum" to the students, said re-locating the elementary school -- which serves a community where many children are at risk -- will enable the university to play a greater role in the education of the children.
"The university will have the opportunity to work more directly with teachers and students at Paradise," said Harter.
Paradise is a Clark County School District school, but it benefits from its proximity to the university.
Harter said it is an important example of the partnership between the university and the school district.
Other examples include:
-- the Accelerated School Satellite Center, which presently serves 10 schools that serve at-risk students, with five more to be added soon.
-- a revised master's degree program to create an advanced degree to prepare teachers to become principals.
-- Urban Teaching Partnership, which is for college graduates who don't have teaching degrees but are proficient in a subject area that can be taught in elementary school.
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