Friday, September 12, 2008

Friday Five: Back to School

Mother Laura says: "It's time for a Back-To-School Friday Five!"
1. Is anyone going back to school, as a student or teacher, at your house? How's it going so far? Not this year, and I find I must add a "Thanks be!" to that. I always wanted to teach at the college level and I gave it the good try for three semesters. Perhaps another time it will work, but with my current job and clergy responsibilities it was too much. That said, there is still something in me that feels a little left out that they are there and I am not.

2. Were you glad or sad when back-to-school time came as a kid? I was always happy to go back to school. Would have stayed there all year if I could have. I still want to go back!

3. Did your family of origin have any rituals to mark this time of year? How about now? Just making sure my uniform was all pressed and ready and that I had enough knee socks and fresh white blouses, shoes that fit. The school supply list was blessedly short...not like ones I see now in the stores. One year ours went something like..."two number two pencils, box of crayons (16 colors), art gum eraser, pad of paper--wide-ruled, one ruler and one cartridge pen with three refills." I think that was fifth grade and I have no idea why I remember it. Maybe because of the ink pen. It was a Big Deal.

4. Favorite memories of back-to-school outfits, lunchboxes, etc? No outfits (uniforms...and they WERE uniform, no choices within). I went home for lunch except on the day my mom volunteered at hot lunch so no lunchbox. Mostly it was just being glad to be going back.

5. What was your best year of school? Freshman year of high school. I had fought hard to get to go to the all girl academy and it met my expectations. The world opened up for me academically and culturally. I made friends and had fun. It was a good year.

8 comments:

Sally said...

I was fascianted by school supply lists, but as you say they are often scary now!!!

Auntie Knickers said...

I wonder if the school supply lists are still shorter in schools where tuition is charged? The school supply I remember being asked for repeatedly as a parent was boxes of tissues! (When I was in first and second grade, we were inspected each day and one of the requirements was to bring a handkerchief...times change.) I enjoyed reading your posts.

Katy V. said...

Your uniform comment caught my eye--I remember transitioning from 5th to 6th grade---my uniform changed from a jumper to a skirt, and I was soooo excited!

Elaine (aka...Purple) said...

I hope the extra time and less stress of not teaching is a blessing to you this fall.

Jan said...

School supply lists were usually fun, though sometimes frustrating. I liked it when my kids were old enough to take care of their own.

Dr. Laura Marie Grimes said...

I know what you mean about missing teaching...but glad that your workload is more reasonable this time around.

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

I was always ready to go back to school too, but I had a stomach ache the night before every single year.

Silent said...

I know it's been awhile since you wrote it, but I wrote a chapter 4 to the never-ending story!