School Days

Today, all of the teachers are going back to school. How I wish that I could be there,too. I love school! When I was growing up I could hardly wait for Labor Day to come because schools opened the next day,the next week day. I lived in Ohio and we didn't start in August. Many states still follow that pattern. School begins after Labor Day! Kentucky started opening in August because of the possibility of snow causing "snow days"in the winter. In Ohio, when I was growing up, if it snowed you put your boots on and went to school. There was no such thing as a "snow day". Not only did you go to school but you walked there. I loved that too. We would walk to school and the walk was so quiet. The blanket of snow absorbed the usual noises.

For forty years, I went back to school on this day to get ready for the year to come. We always gathered together to enjoy the "Opening donuts". The teachers shared all of their summer experiences and renewed friendships and exuded excitement to be back, they checked out the new faculty members and made their acquaintances. The synergy in the room was almost palpable

I scrutinized all of the class rosters and wondered which kid was out there waiting to see if he could challenge me, see if he could make me wish I had taken up some other career; I wondered which kid was out there waiting for one of us to change his life for the better. Which kid was going to find a friend that would enrich his life forever, which kid would learn how to be more enthused about learning and more enthused to be thinking and recognizing his/her talents.

There are usually workshops presented to keep all teachers up on the latest techniques and new methods of grading, clarification of school rules, dress code infractions, banned articles and so on.

I liked getting the classroom in order, assembling the name tags and making a seating arrangement, posting the "Class Rules" in a prominant place, displaying books suitable for reading, making sure that there are games available for rainy day recesses, charts or posters that refer to subject matters that we will be working on. Of course the alphabet and number line must be visible to them for reference. Class schedules posted for easy access lest they forget what's next.

Lesson plans for the early days were made. A planned recitation of class structure and likes and dislikes. A 'getting to know each other' session. It is always good to establish just what your expectations are. I always thought it was wise to let them know just what you would tolerate. I informed them that I personally had only one rule and as long as they did not break my rule, we would get along just fine! RULE: Do as I say!

I hate it that I am not there today! I feel that a part of my being has been excised. I love school in general. I like volunteering to do some of the mailings and any thing else that I can do. I like the atmosphere of school, the 'smell' of school. I must say that part of the ambiance of schools was tossed out when they switched from 'black boards and chalk' to 'white boards and markers' I know that the thinking is that so many children were allergic to chalk dust but what about the marker odors? Can they be good for you? I inhaled chalk dust from the time I was five years old and so did millions of others and we survived. For tactile learners I think the feel, sound and odor of chalk on a black slate is theraputic and inspiring. Oh, well!

I could hardly wait till Monday when I was a student. I had almost perfect attendance, most illnesses that we have immunization for now, were dealt with by the Health department by quarantining the whole family. My sister got the measles, so I, and the rest of the family were quarantined. I had to miss many days of school. I didn't get the measles but in case my brothers would get it, my aunt took me to stay at her house until the danger was over. I absolutely did not want to miss any more school!

As for going to school to teach for forty years, I made every effort to not miss days. I never woke up in the morning and thought, "I don't want to go today." I always woke up and went to school if I could, no matter what. I loved school and always will.

I wish I were there as I write! Ciao

PS Have a great year, teachers and count your blessings. Go forth and change someone's life for the better.