FAMOUS actor Henry ‘The Fonz’ Winkler popped into Barrhead to read from his new children’s book in 2009.
His trip to St Mark’s Primary was part of a UK-wide tour to promote the latest book in his Hank Zipzer series.
Winkler, best known for his role as Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli – AKA ‘The Fonz’ – in hit sitcom Happy Days, had written the books to help children understand that having dyslexia doesn’t mean you’re stupid or lazy.
The actor, who has dyslexia, was labelled as a troublemaker at school because of the condition.
At the time, he said: “School was unbelievably hard for me. Teachers didn’t know what dyslexia was at that time.
“I was told I was stupid, lazy and not living up to my potential most of my life.
“And, when you’re younger and you’re told that, you believe it. It’s part of your self-image.
“Just because we learn differently, that does not mean that we are not incredibly smart human beings. That’s something I need every child to understand.”
The lucky children at St Mark’s Primary got to hear Winkler read from his book ‘Help! Somebody Get Me Out of Fourth Grade’ at a school assembly.
Ahead of the VIP visit, headteacher Gillian Hamilton said: “We’re really looking forward to it. We sent a newsletter out to parents and they were just as excited as the children.”
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