4 posts tagged “school”
Sleeper and Antic will soon begin a new term at school. While my boys aren't heavily into open contemplation at this age, I think most students experience the start of a new term, at least subconsciously, as something of a fresh start. Ah, but what about cumulative GPA?
People treasure and celebrate the idea of new beginnings. There are many examples, not the least of which is New Year's with its parties, countdowns, and resolutions. A brand-spanking-new year awaits us on the first page of every calendar, providing the opportunity to wipe the slate clean and make changes.
But that clean slate is, for the most part, a comforting illusion. Change is certainly possible. Don't get me wrong. But there's no denying the past. Each passing day makes an indelible mark on us and shapes who we are and the future path before us. (I believe this is as true for societies as it is for individuals.)
The student entering a new term or a new year lugs his prior performance along, for better or worse. And so it goes ever afterward. Education, resume, partnerships and transactions, credit score, voting record, medical history, net worth. Parents, children, loved ones, rivals, bliss, despair, trust, betrayal, give and take. Every choice and experience, accomplishment or failure, adds to the tally somehow, internally or externally.
The past stubbornly refuses to be erased, yet we rub at it, ever hopeful, ready to lay down more pleasing lines. The new year / new job / new spouse / new home / new you will be so much better than what came before.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I suppose it's what keeps us going.
Me: Sleeper, do you think you could find your copy of Night? Antic's going to need it soon. Miss Temornin mentioned they're going to read it as a class assignment.
Sleeper: Yeah, sure I'll look for it. I dunno where it is, though.
Antic, highly exasperated: Why are we always reading books in that class?!
Me & Sleeper, in unison: "It's an English class!"
Silly kid.
If you are the parent of a young child, you may want to stop reading here. I don't want to contribute to your disillusionment. :) My topic: Back to School Night. Bear in mind that my sons are now both in high school. (Yes, this makes me feel old.) So it's safe to say that I've been to a few of these.
Every year, I dutifully put it on my schedule and trundle off at the appointed hour without giving it a second thought. But let's face it folks: these things can be, and usually are, dreadfully boring. Antic's BTSN this year was, perhaps, the most mind-numbing of all. I don't blame the school. I think I've simply reached my saturation point.
The idea is to speed through an accelerated version of your child's daily schedule, spending ten minutes or so in each classroom, meeting the teacher and listening to a brief rundown of expectations and goals. Some teachers are laudably prepared, with a succinct presentation and a helpful handout. Others seem caught off guard by the whole event and ramble through a disjointed collection of anecdotes and semi-helpful advice.
I recognize that it's a worthwhile process. Really. I just don't know if I can do it again. Maybe it's like childbirth and I'll forget how painful it was before it's time to do it again. Naturally, I wouldn't willingly admit to Antic that it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. In fact, on the way home, Tall and I indulged in a quick my-god-that-was-tedious rant to get it out of our systems, and then we helped each other come up with positive comments we could share with Antic once we got home. The last thing I want to do is come home from school and report that it was boring. That would be too surreal.
One of the teachers had this to say: "Don't call me and ask me why your kid didn't do her homework. Ask her." It was funny, eliciting a nervous titter from the parents, but it's also true. If we don't know why our kids aren't doing their homework, how in the world would the teacher know?
My favorite part of the evening (aside from the 'dismissal' bell) was the frisson of surprise when I recognized the dead-on characterization of a particular teacher that Antic had shared with me a few weeks ago. "She actually gets excited when she talks about math concepts, Mom, I kid you not. She'll be talking about a formula or something and she just gets all wound up." Sure enough. I had pretty much forgotten that conversation until the moment during her 'class' when she walked up to the chalkboard, drew a number line, and started explaining, with a lilt in her voice, the difference between whole numbers and rational numbers. The woman's eyes actually lit up. I nearly laughed out loud.
Who was your best (or worst) elementary school teacher?
Submitted by Minnow.
Do you have any idea how long ago that was?! Yikes. I don't even want to think about it, let alone count back.
I can't name a 'worst' teacher. Well, maybe the one in Texas who paddled the kids who acted up. Although I was never subjected to a whack on my backside, I did consider her somewhat scarier than the other teachers.
I can't name a 'best' teacher from that time period either. I think I changed schools too often to form any attachments strong enough to commit to memory.
I do recall the names of my 7th and 8th grade teachers (not technically elementary school, but it was a K-8 school) and the fact that the 7th grade teacher often hired me to babysit. They weren't the best or worst; they're just the ones I can pin a name on.
I do not view this obliteration of grade school teachers as a failure. In fact, I am awarding myself an "A" for deleting useless information from my overtaxed mind. I had to make room for song lyrics, you know.
