The first day of school has changed ~ September 4, 1997

David Heiller

The first day of school has changed around our house. Not too many years ago, the kids looked forward to returning to school. It was an exciting, nervous time. They wanted to see their old friends. They knew they would meet a few new ones. They were curious about their teachers.

Those early years of the
first-day-of-school photos were really fun.
(Noah is in first grade, Malika in kindergarten.)

When Dave Nyrud would pull up into the driveway with his school bus at 7:10 or so, they would jostle each other in an attempt to get on first.

I couldn’t talk the kids out of getting on the school bus on the first day of school, but it wouldn’t take much talking now.

For about the past three weeks, they have been lamenting the end of summer and the start of school.

I wouldn’t say the kids hate school. That’s too strong a word. But somewhere along the line, they have grown to not like it very much.

School used to be mostly fun. Now it’s mostly work.

That’s not surprising. A teacher’s job is to make the students work, and hopefully learn. A good teacher is someone who can make learning fun too. I tip my hat to them. It’s not an easy job. Too much fun and some stuffed shirt will complain, “You have to take education seriously.”

Yeah, but if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, you’ll never be very good at it, or you’ll be miserable, or both.

Most teachers have my respect. Cindy and I try to pass that attitude on to our kids. It’s important.

Some people bash teachers, and complain about their unions and their wages and their summers off. To them I say, “Go get your teaching license and give it a try.” Most people couldn’t cut it.

1997, the first-day-of-school
photos were not as much fun
 in 1997. But they were good
 sports, mostly.

Noah, who is in eighth grade, is quite articulate on the matter of returning to school. On Monday he called it a “travesty.” He has never used that word in a sentence before, to my knowledge. So school is teaching him something!

Mollie, now a seventh grader, isn’t as outspoken. But she has told me that she isn’t looking forward to school. She is afraid her classmates won’t like her new dress or new shoes. Peer pressure is a big part of her life. Some things never change.

Tuesday morning was chilly. Fall was in the air. So Mollie walked out the door wearing a jacket. Noah told her not to wear it, that she wouldn’t need it and that kids might tease her about it. So she took it off. It was a rare instance of her listening to her older brother.

I can’t say as I blame the kids for not being excited about school. Put yourself in their shoes. They’ve just had three months off. When was the last time you had three months off? Would you want to be going back to work after that? That’s what the kids are feeling.

So are teachers. But they are professionals and adults. They are making a good living. They can buck up and do their jobs.

The kids are still learning how to do that. Handling the emotions of returning to school is a big step in that direction.,

On the way to church on Sunday, Noah said for the umpteenth time that he was “bummed” that school was starting. Then he allowed that we must be sad too.

I hated to tell him that that was not quite accurate. But being an honest and sensitive dad, I pumped my fist in the air and said, “All right!”

Hey, a little gloating never hurt anyone. It gives the kids something to look forward to.

Yes, there are a few people who are happy about the return of the school year.