I can honestly say
that yes I miss the start of school. The
feeling is innate and how can it not be? Thirty five years of my life was spent
teaching. Dreams come to me that I should be at school, can’t find my things
and then wake up—or are those nightmares? Either nightmares or the true knowing
that I gave away almost all of my personal teaching things. And they aren’t here.
Oh trust me, I’ve
seen the back to school supplies in stores and feel an urge to load up the
shopping cart and realize No I don’t have
to do that any more . And so to satisfy that feeling I buy a big package of
Sharpies in every color: That is at least something that I can use.
I don’t miss the
never ending putting up new supplies, numbering boxes of crayons, sharpening a
thousand pencils, stamping the school name in brand new text books and putting
up new bulletin boards. That routine went on for almost two weeks every single
year before school started. What I do miss are the fresh faces of kids who were
so ready to learn.
That first day is
forever etched in my memory. Most of my teaching career was spent in the second
grade. Imagine young kids that had just left first grade and having to hear
what all they would be doing throughout the year. They just sat there and
gasped. Every time. I’d go over the classroom rules, homework expectations,
trips and the like and I’d see faces either in shock or wonderment. And it
never failed that by nine o’clock, a child would ask “Is it lunch time yet?” I’d
reply “In two hours it will be.” “Two hours?” moaned more than one child.
Actually it was probably the entire class. Within half an hour another child
would ask “Is it time to go home?” My answer was not pleasant as it resounded
around the room. “No. Not for a couple of hours.” “Hours?” I heard. “Yes, trust
me it’s hours before you go home.” A giant hush fell over the classroom or
maybe it was a giant feeling of defeat on the children’s part. Stuck there for
hours is an eternity for young children.
In all honesty, I
never got any sleep before the first day of school and that was every single
year. I was excited just as much as the children were or maybe more so. Time
had been spent in the room prior as I wrote but not for them—it was going to be
all new. That first day was a true joy and once it ended, it seemed as if I had
never left for summer vacation. Come the next school day and it seemed as if we
had been together forever.
So many memories of
past first days of school loom in my mind. The fresh young faces of eager
children, shy ones and those who were in a state of shock are still remembered
by me. Each and every one of them has not been forgotten. Trust me that this coming
Friday, August 9 will be a day that I will wake up early, feel that I should be
at school and miss it. After all, how can you not miss doing something that you
loved?
It’s a hard habit to
shake. And no doubt it will go on forever with me—that feeling “I should be
there.” My heart will be there with the new teachers and new children wishing
that they have a successful year and get through that first day. Know they
will. Just wait for those questions about lunch and going home. It’s
inevitable. And it has always brought a smile to my face. Still does.
Sherry Hill
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