A School Memory

From my journal for Spetember 1, 1970:

This is my month, my beautiful, cherished month.  Welcome September!  It is one of the coldest days I can remember for this time of year.  It was 41 degrees.  Billy wore his winter coat for his back to school picture in the early morning sunlight.

"How will I know it's your first day of school picture?" I asked.  He answered, "You'll have to write on it when you get it back."

Billy was very unhappy about his first day of school.  He cried last night and he struggled with tears this morning.

"Think happy things," I tried to comfort.  "It won't be so bad."  He could only nod.  Couldn't speak. But I know how it was when I was a kid.  I hated school, too.

I don't hate or fear my first day of school (as a student teacher) as Billy does nor as I did when I was a child. But I don't embrace it, either.  Impersonally, I accept it.  I hold it at arm's length and examine it.

Marlin, Jr. was full of energy and almost eager to get to school.  He had a moment of doubt yesterday when I told him that second and third grades are together this year and Mrs. Johnson is his teacher. But he was eager to meet his friends again and he wants to learn to read more.

Thirty-five kids showed up for class this morning and we had only thirty four desks.  One tall girl in a sunny yellow dress, her hair divided into two tails, very self-consciously waited for two boys to bring her a desk and chair.

     How long ago that was but the description I wrote of that day brings that classroom back to mind very clearly.  I think I remember who that girl was!  I think she's the daughter of one of my friends today.  I had no idea that I would get to know her mother well. 

It's an interesting memory to me.

Posted by: NJ on 1/29/2004 9:31:21 PM , 3 comments