Back to School has hit Metro Atlanta smack in Summer’s middle! We are still clinging to the tail of July, for Heaven’s sake!—some classrooms are already filling, and others will in a few short days. Where did that dear ole three-month-Summer-vacation-time go?! Time passes pretty fast, but it seems to be on steroids during fun times.
Teachers have populated my family all my life. Grandmother Jewel (Moore) taught school in Gwinnett County for “a million years”—and loved it. My grandmother (Veal) taught Sunday School; my late wife, Paige taught in elementary school for over three decades. My daughter, Jennifer, with whom I now live, has been a teacher for years. Actually, Melanie, my other daughter and I, both have degrees in Education. “Student teaching” to meet degree requirements, is as close as we came to being employed as teachers. However, I did some substitute teaching in a high school—several times. All this to say, I have deep respect, appreciation, and love for teachers. There is also something of an inner warmth seeing great lines of yellow school busses rolling out as school begins.
When my high school class had its 50th reunion, my teacher (English, History, Journalism, etc.) attended. I made it a point to visit with her and apologize to her about my classroom behavior—I know I was a pain in the butt. She was gracious—still I tried to let her know how much she had meant in the building blocks of my life and Calling. Looking back, I wish I would have thanked other teachers who meant so much to me.
Paige had a little informal “agreement” with parents of her elementary school students: “I won’t believe everything your child tells me about home, if you won’t believe everything your child tells you about school.” It worked pretty good. On a related matter, so many funny things came up in the classroom Paige said she could write a book about them. Many are hilarious, and some should not be put in print.
Back to school is a big deal whatever the student’s age, or whether it is your first or last child to head off to school; Every child is precious. Every child needs love and support. Sometimes that is hard for a parent. For example; just as your child is—a little late— headed to bed and tells you, “Oh! I forgot. My class is going ot a field trip tomorrow morning. I need to take my lunch and bottled water.” However that’s not quite as bad as before “allergy threats” when your child might say just before bedtime, “I’m supposed to take 30 chocolate covered cup cakes to class in the morning!”
Oh those dear children—Grrrr. But—love them anyway! The days pass away so quickly. You have far more influence than you realize—that includes your children, your neighbors, and anyone in your sphere. The song, Teach your Children, (You may skip the Ad) by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young includes a reminder of how quickly the this moment passes–You, who are on the road /Must have a code /you try to live by /And so become yourself /Because the past is just a goodbye.
©Copyright 2024 Willis H. Moore
Teaching has to be a calling for it not to grieve you these days. If you are doing it for the money, burnout is around the corner. I never meant to be a teacher. I got into teaching exceptional education while running from God. And because of my behavior, I still love it. I spent 23 years in the classroom. Retired, took two years off and now I find myself back in the same place by request. I have an August 5th spot.
Teaching has to be a calling for it not to grieve you these days. If you are doing it for the money, burnout is around the corner. I never meant to be a teacher. I got into teaching exceptional education while running from God. And because of my behavior, I still love it. I spent 23 years in the classroom. Retired, took two years off and now I find myself back in the same place by request. I have an August 5th spot.