Today school started in our neighborhood.
I was a teacher for more than 37 years. The start of school was a very significant part of the year. I would start going into the school about mid August to get things ready in my classroom. I had to make sure that I had all the supplies I needed so that I didn't have to run around looking for things. Textbooks had to be brought in.
Then there were unit plans that had to be fine tuned. It all took time.
Of course, other colleagues were there so some visiting took place.
When I was department head there was more work. I was responsible for planning so that everybody was on the same page.
What I really wanted to say is that since I've been retired for 25 years I no longer think about the start of school . That is, until I read in the paper about our teachers participating in a back to school welcome.
So the school system is back in business for another year.
Things are much different compared to when I retired.
So school bells are ringing but they don't get my adrenalin flowing. When I went to school a hand bell was used to time the periods. The first year I taught, 1958-59 I used a hand bell. The school didn't have electricity. After that it was buzzers that kept us organized.
.JPG)
