School Days
School days, school days, dear old wonderful school days. I can hear the bells ringing, and so glad I don’t have to be there! This time every year, I always say a little prayer of gratitude that those days are behind me.
And this past Monday, when I knew that teachers all over Texas were returning for staff development, I couldn’t help but think about how many days I had sat and listened to motivational speakers and in-service presenters. I could just visualize a room full of teachers, some engaged, a few enthusiastically, and others dreaming about the first holiday.
Of course, I was always one of those enthusiastically engrossed individuals whose full attention was on the presenter! Since those early days, I have actually been the presenter so I know full well the feeling on both sides of the lectern.
In some ways, I couldn’t blame them for thinking about all the other things they needed to be doing, but I did get a bit frustrated if I were competing with the morning newspaper! Good thing that teachers like doughnuts almost as well as police officers, so most of the time attention spans lasted a few extra minutes with the help of caffeine and sugar.
Next Monday, the real reason for school starting goes into full swing as kids of all sizes and shapes take to the halls. The first day is, without a doubt, fun to watch unfold. Between back-to-school fashion statements, new haircuts or lack thereof and stories of summer adventures, it is probably a lost cause in terms of instruction, but a great day for re-uniting friendships and catching up on news.
The first football game will be right around the corner in spite of 100 degree weather. Yep, there are some excellent reasons for retirement, and that is just one of them. So good luck to all the educators reading this blog, which are probably few, unless of course, the speaker is really dull. Hope you have a wonderful year. I’ll be thinking of you!
Paragraphs on Padre 
Every one of the 20+ years I taught, I could not sleep the night before the first day of school. I was nervous and excited. I love the familiar rhythm of the school year–September to May–Football to prom. I always had something new that I was planning to try each year.
Like you, the last 20 or so years I am more likely in the role of presenting professional development before school starting–not so exciting. I remember sitting at the back of the room with Benny Jones making jokes and not particularly respecting the presentation (I still hate motivational speakers–I feel more manipulated than motivated).
But I sorta miss the excitement of starting a new school year with a new lesson plan book and grade book a ne bulletin board display and wondering about my students.
Just remember, there are no grade books as we knew them—it’s all on computer!!Yeah, all those motivational speakers had to have a story about having a hard life so they could rise above. When I found out much they were getting paid to try to motivate us, I was wishing I had had a harder life!!!Sorry I missed you in Dallas.