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OT: First Day of School

J

James Howell

Well-known Member
Over a half-century later, I still look forward to the first day of school.

As a kid go to the barber shop on Saturday to get a fresh haircut.

Finally "big enough" to pick out your best clothes and shine your own shoes.

Wondering how many new kids will be in your home room class.

Back to the future; went to the barber shop Saturday for a fresh haircut.

This morning put on my best John Deere shirt and shined my shoes.

Wondered if there will be a parking spot with all the new kids on <a href="http://www.efc.dcccd.edu/">campus</a>.

Some things never change.

Do any of y'all have "youngsters" starting elementary, middle, jr. high, high, or college?
 
I drive school bus, so yeah, I look forward to it too.

I"m happy to be out of college, but I"m sure kids of my own will creep up on me some day before I know it.
 
My oldest daughter started kindigarden last tuesday. She actually went to bed at 9:00 and was up at 6:30. picked her up after school and she fell a sleep at 6:00 and did not wake up until the next morning. Her mother was pretty emotinal also.
 
My son started last Thursday, going into grade 4. Unfortunately he doesn't live here with us, he's with his mom in North Dakota, about 10 hours away. We keep in touch almost daily with phone calls and webcam but it's just not the same as actually being there for him.
 
My ex-wife taught kindergarten and 1st grade for many years.

First couple of weeks several of them would call her "momma" by mistake.

Always enjoyed visiting with the "little ones" on parents day.

Hope both your daughter and wife have a speedy recovery.
 
Its good that you are able to keep in touch daily with your son.

I know first hand that its tough without your young children at home with you.

Just do the best you can regardless of the circumstances/situation.
 
Congratulations to you on your upcoming retirement.

School teachers have a great impact/influence in all of our lives; a very important job for someone outside the family.

Attending a very small school, I can remember most of my teachers and how each one helped me.
 
This is the second year after retiring from education. It is also the second year this farm has been back in production since 1966 when I went to College. [Eureka Ill.] Miss teaching, love Farming Ed
 
It dawned on me one day when my oldest daughter was in high school.

She said one of her teachers was Ms. Grainger and asked if I knew her.

Couldn't recall the last name, so my daughter added "Ms. Grainger said the she was your girlfriend in high school."

Busted!
 
Funny how perspectives can vary. I absolutely hated every minute and every day of school, from kindergarten to my senior year. When I hit age 16, I wanted to quit and go to Viet Nam, but my parents wouldn't let me. 30 years after I graduated, I made the mistake of going to college and hated that too.

My memories of school are of sitting inside a building, listening to a boring (and sometimes dumb) teacher, while the sun was shining and the birds were chirping outside (where I wanted to be). I really wanted to learn a trade, e.g. car/tractor mechanics or carpentry. But in those days, only high academic achievers were allowed to take extra courses like mechanics.

When in lower grades I got "punished" by having to put my head down on the desk with my eyes closed. Once in high school, I did that on my own accord, since I was so bored. And Catholic school was even more fun. Look at a nun cross-eyed and she'd wack you with a yard-stick. Or worse yet, sometimes a priest would come in the room and punch you in the head (hard).

I've got four kids that went through the public school system, and it too was pretty awful (from a parent's perspective). Now, our youngest 6 year old is getting home-schooled.

I'm not trying to take anything away from your good experience. I just can't say the same.
 
Congratulations on your retirement from teaching and your love of wine farming.

Here's a thought; teach a course related to wine farming.
 
The "good" that comes from your experience is that your young son will get a good education at home with both his parents.
 
Sent three of them off last Wednesday. My sons are 8 and 11 and we have a 4 year old foster child that we managed to enroll in preschool.

My wife is a teacher where the two boys attend school and was handed a sheet listing all the students names - some with little notations written beside their names. Our youngest had "Likes to talk" written beside his name. My wife added "a lot" to the notation and passed it on the next teacher.
 
Junior year in high school is a good one.

Smarter than a Sophomore, but can still learn from the mistakes of a Senior!

Be sure to keep her car in good shape; that way no excuses for boys driving her home after school.
 
Have 2 daughters both headed to college later this week. Not sure how we will survive 2 tuition bills for the next 2 years while they overlap in school. Rule is if they do grad school it is on their dime, but we will see. Wife and I are looking forward to being "empty nesters."

Kirk
 
Sounds like y'all have your hands full; good the hear the youngest is in pre-school.

Do your boys get to call your wife "momma" at school?

Had a couple of buddies in school whose mothers were also teachers; never heard either of them "address" their mother at school.
 
Congratulations to both your daughters on their return to college.

Sometimes scholarships, internships, and part-time work are available for students.

Some companies/businesses/organizations will pay their employees for completing post-graduate courses.

Enjoy your "empty nest" while it lasts.
 
i hated school so bad i still cringe when i enter a school building and that is after 43 years since graduation in 1967.
i learn more every day than i did in school and junior college.
the only classes i thought every did me any good were soils ag econ, and class on feeding animals.
i think the whole eduction is screwed from day one. kids are not taught how to earn a living just how to go to college.
for the most part they don't learn job skills or what a day of hard work is. mrs 730's boys would die if they had to keep up with tall kid and i. their 4'10" 90 lb sister is another story i think she could run her brothers in the ground and come back for more
 
I'll be the first to agree that not all experiences in school are the best.

Most important job skills I learned in school were how to read, write, and do simple math ( add, subtract, multiply, and divide ).

The best thing about being out of school is reading and writing about the things we enjoy.

Doing the math may or may not be so enjoyable.
 
While my six years at the university were among the best years of my life so far, the opposite was true of k-12.

That was just awful. I was just "doin time" when I was there like I had been sent to state prison or something. Never in my life have I ever been around such a large group of completely self absorbed people in my life. Every day was excruciating torture.

It has been about 25 years since I walked out of there, and the smell and sight of public schools still makes me want to run in the other direction. I hear about back to school sales every year and that terrible sense of foreboding always comes back.

To this day, I refuse to attend any reunions. I do not wish to remember that. I have nothing to say to those people. I would rather forget....
 
Our son just started grad school in Chicago to be a teacher. We live 160 miles away and he commutes to his one-night-a-week-accelerated-class. One of his classmates lets him sleep on the couch so he doesn't have to drive back that night. Class run from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. Our daughter heads back to Michigan State next Monday. Then we have to pick her up for Labor Day weekend.

Larry
 
Both daughers are pretty high achievers. If I had to pay "sticker price" for the school they are attending I'd be in big trouble. $34k per year per student would stretch me pretty thin. Tough enough just making up the bit we do. Always liked school myself, but not sure I ever got anything out of high school other than taking a typing class that of course I use everyday. Kind of like some below, classes were generally taught to a lowest common denominator and it was not very hard to keep up. I was fortunate to have a handful of really good teachers at appropriate times or I could see myself having a very different life. Once I got to college, I was generally studying subjects I was interested in and things got better, but still ran into plenty of pretty bad teachers. At that level it was not because they did not know their stuff, but usually could not translate it to the student. Professors are more about the research dollars they bring in than what they bring to the classroom.

Nice thread you started.
 
No, they address her as Mrs Dhermesc. They are embarrassed to admit they have a mother - much less one that is aware of their every move and step in school.
 
I was at a Chamber meeting in Manhattan Kansas. They were discussing the cost of living in Manhattan and the area. They "revealed" it is cheaper to send your kids to K-State than it is to send them to daycare (given the rates licensed providers charge).
 
Just had ours start. One in first grade and the other one goes to preschool 3 days a week. One more coming in a few years. When I look at this picture I don't know what to think. 3rd is a girl too. I've got my work cut out. The middle daughter on the right is my big helper. She wants to be everywhere I am, in the tractor, help drive the truck, on the mower, etc. I love it, I'll miss it some day.
sydneyfirstdayofschool2010.jpg
 
I know exactly what you mean about "marking time".

The only class reunion that I"ve attended was about 6 years ago.

Big mistake on my part.

Was called last year to attend a 40th anniversary dinner/reunion honoring my high school football coach.

Needless to say I didn"t attend; neither did anyone else.

"Bulldog" was not one of my favorite coaches in high school.
 
Priceless!

Here's what I think looking at your daughters' photo: you're a blessed young man with two loving daughters.

Thanks for sharing your photo with us.
 
We have a boy starting kindergarten and 5 girls Grade 1,3,6,7,8. school starts Sept.8 And in a couple years one more boy and a girl 2years after that.We will be in the school system for a few years yet.
a20898.jpg
 
Now that's one good looking family of girls and boys!

Last week a lady wished me Happy New Year.

Said that she celebrated the start of every new school year when all her children went back to school.

Thanks for sharing your family photo with us.
 
Sounds like your son is dedicated to obtain his teaching certificate.

Night school is challenging enough and that long commute takes up a lot of his valuable time.

Please encourage him to "hang in there" and complete his program.

His hard work and persistance will eventually get him through.
 
James,
Oliver,5 years old,starts kindergarten this year.It is a full day program so it should be interesting to see how he handles it.Sander,my 8 year old, starts third grade.

Vito
 
oldest daughter entering senior year of college with biology major thens wants to enroll in PA program, told her first 4years on me rest on you, youngest daughter started junior year in high school, still remember kindergarten days, lots of fun. My memories of school are mostly good, had a great 1st, 3rd grade teachers. Rest taught down to level of weakest student. Best teacher of all was VoAg teacher, he was one that pushed me to go to college, I need to thank him for that. Mark
 
Our youngest two granddaughters got on the bus for the first time at our son's new house across the road. They're in first and second grade but they lived in town until now so this is their first bus ride. Their mom, a city girl who has never ridden a bus, was in tears and our son, who rode the bus from K through maybe 10, just said it's a rite of initiation. When the bus dropped them off this afternoon they were running and jumping so it must have been a good experience. It's the first time the bus has stopped at that driveway for 42 years. Boy does it bring back memories. I grew up in the house I live in. Jim
 
I am the same way. The half a dozen folks I went k-12 with who are worth knock'n in the head I see at least once a month. The rest of them, well you know! I made more friends, leaned more, and had a heck of alot better time in college.

Dave
 
Congratulations to both your daughters.

Takes a special person to complete a major in biology; encourage her to complete her PA program as well.

Never took AG in high school; got enough "hands on" experience at home.

Mr. Thomas was the AG teacher; a very quiet, mild mannered gentlemen.

He was a good man; no children of his own but raised his wife's two nephews, Paul and David, and niece, Kathy.
 
Oliver will do just fine in kindergarten.

He will make some new little buddies in his class.

Will be looking for a photo Christmas card of the boys again this year; don't forget us.
 
Glad to hear that your granddaughters had a good time on the bus.

Every once-in-a-while if you get a chance, be there to meet them when they get home; there's just something special about "granddaddy".

Your son is right; riding on the bus is just part of growing up in the country.

Talk about bringing back memories.

I rode the bus until old enough ( 14 ) to drive.

First one on at 7am; last one off at 4:30pm.

Thirty miles one way every day.

Every day was an adventure.
 
Sometimes college provides a fresh start for us.

Some of the best times, that I can remember, were during undergraduate school.

Varsity sports, fraternity, ROTC, cook, etc. were challenging at times, but still managed to graduate in 3 years.

Certainly surprised my HS counselor.

=========================================

How's little sunshine doing?
 
Four grandkids in school, grades 4,5,7,8. Son is a HS principal, Daughter-in-law teaches second grade.
I started my 44th year as middle school Technology teacher on August 9. This year, I have my oldest two grandkids in class!
 
My daughter starts her senior year in Savannah,GA. She's going to be an interior designer. We are empty nesters until Winter break....
 
Congratulations on your 44 years as a teacher.

Similar question as before - do the oldest two grandkids get to call you "grandpa" at school?

What are the topics do you cover in middle school technology?
 
Nothing better than the Senior year in college.

Taking all the major courses that you enjoy and being just two semesters away from graduation.

Congratulations to her.
 
Three children in college. Twins are freshmen, son is sophmore. My wife is in college too. I support the bookstore staff.
 
ours are grown and gone son is on his second hitch in the navy, daughter is just 10 credits away from her bacholers degree in teaching, i dont really miss school myself [ back in the day school didnt miss me either lol] but the one thing i do miss is friday nite football at the high school
 
Good post James - Don't know where the summers go. This year was shorter than last and bout as far back as I can remember! Daughter started 8th grade last Friday and on short schedule this week.
CEPT:
1) Mom (wife) took her to the barber week or two back and just had the back layered and no attention to the bangs.
2) Didn't get/shine shoes yet cause you can wear flip-flops to school.
3) They went to the mall to get Aeropostel when I've been buying GOOD pulling/racing tee - shirts for her.
4) Probably most important thing was getting contacts before school.

Oh well, she still likes to hang out with Dad sometimes - wonder when that's going to change?

James2

Son of retired Industial Arts/rural bus driven Dad and Elementary teachin Mom
 
James,
You and Nancy are on my personal list for the family Christmas card.Wife ends up sending out about 200 or so.Boogles my mind every year with that number.Good thing you mentioned it as we have to think about this years picture.I think the nautical theme is out this year.I usually like to get a tractor invovled in the picture.

Vito
 
No, the grandkids address me the same as the others. Special privileges do apply to needing a ride home some evening, or lunch money that was forgotten!
Tech program has grown out of the old industrial arts tradition, but does not resemble it much. As science is the study of the natural world, Technology Education is the study of the man-made world; in other words, "how stuff works!" The lab is equipped with a series of "modules" that take about ten class periods to complete and each address a particular type of modern technology.
I have 6th-7th-8th graders involved in Electricity, Electronics, Lasers and Fiber Optics, Rocketry and Space, Fudamentals of Flight, Stess Analysis, Home Design, Controls and Sensors, Aerodynamics, Robotics, Graphic Design, Computer Animation, CAD, CNC Milling, CNC Lathe, Plastics, and Energy Conservation. Some of the modules are more computer-driven, some are more hands-on.
In addition, we build small bridges using the West Point Military Academy bridge contest software, build and race small magnetic levitation cars, make and launch rockets, build and fly rubber-band-powered airplanes, and do a lot of problem-solving activities. Classes are elective, nine weeks, and large. I see about 165 kids in class per day, and sponsor two after school robotics clubs that enter contests for LEGO and VEX robotics.
The course changes as technology evolves, every day is different, and nobody has more fun all day long than I do!
 
Growing like kudzu tells me that she"s strong, tough, and taking over everything in sight.

Give her a hug for us.

Been hotter than a four-balled tomcat around here; supposed to have a cool front coming in tomorrow.

Temps predicted in the mid 90s through the weekend.
 
Still remember when our oldest daughter started 1st grade, can't remember who cried harder, her or her Mom.
Today she started on her Masters @ BSU (Boise State) and her sister started her Senior year @ SCSU (St Cloud State).
 
We had 17 days in a row of over 90 and humid. Been over 90 about 60 days this summer, kinda unheard of up here. Got a half inch of rain Saturday and it's supposed to be in the 80's all week but no more rain. That half inch was more than every thing else put together I have had here at the house since about the 10th of June.

Yep she is take'n over every thing!!

Yall's thank you card is still in the pile to get sent out.

Dave
 
Did not miss your motorcycle races post; enjoyed all the photos.

Nancy and I are gone (away from the computer) from Friday afternoon until late Sunday night.

I do catch up on all the YT forum weekend gossip and carrying-on late Sunday night.

Your daughter's last year in jr. high; next year a Freshman in high school.

Enjoy her company while you can; she'll be grown and gone before you know it.

I remember the photo of your parents; both parents being involved with school sure makes a difference.

Thanks for sharing your photo again with us.
 
Congratulations to both your son and daughter; know that you are proud of both of them.

Please thank your son for his service for both Nancy and me.

Your daughter is probably getting ready to do her "practice teaching" internship.

Bet she's glad to be so close to graduation.
 
Wish I could go through high school again at my age.(57) I would get so much more out of it because I would be there because I want to, not because I have to.
 
Sounds like you have an excellent program at your school.

Every one of the topics you mentioned is current technology and skills based.

Your students are very fortunate to have such a good program in middle school.

Keep up the good work; sounds like a lot of fun to me.
 
You have just described a large number of our continuing education students; they enroll in courses that they enjoy or have an interest in learning.

Contact your local high school or community college and find out the various courses offered to adults; you will be surprised at some of the topics.
 
Congratulations to both your daughters on their accomplishments.

Graduate school is challenging but achievable.

Fewer semester/credit hours involved, but a lot more research and study required.

One word comes to mind - perseverance.

Continue to encourage both of them.
 
Congratulations to all your family; please be especially supportive to your wife.

I know exactly what you mean about the price of books.

I've encouraged all of my instructors to provide alternative ways of sharing information in the classroom.

Textbook prices are out of sight, if you can find one available.

Better stop now before I rant and rave.

I know that your proud of both your children and your wife; continue to encourage all of them.
 
On our Daughter's first day of kindergarten the
dog jumped on the schoolbus with her. We had a
hard time getting him off..and he was there every day, rain or shine, waiting for her to
come home. He knew what time it was !
 
Sounds like a very good dog; one like that doesn't come along very often.

There was always a dog or two at the elementary school that followed kids from home.

They would lay in the shade until recess and were ready to play with anyone.

They would stay until their "kid" was ready to walk back home.
 
im taking calculus, ap english, government, economics, and spanish 4 and then psychology and chemistry at the university of kent state.

mixin all that with soccer and farming and im pretty buisy
 
i would say about half the kids in my high school honestly just dont care.

in todays society i think its pretty darn important to get a good education
 
Sounds like a full load to me; hang in there.

Glad to see you getting "dual credit" on your psychology and chemistry courses at the University of Kent State.
 
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