initial thoughts on school

The weather was miserable on the first day of school. We had a rain plan, just not a monsoon plan. Barrels of water emptied on us as we waded through small ponds on the sidewalk. Our pants were wet nearly up to our knees and the umbrellas we carried provided little shelter from a rain intent on saturating anything in its path. We were drenched and anxious and scared. I think it was an omen.

Things I don't like about school so far:

the fact that even after a week of hassle-free "practice" mornings, I ended up having to poke and prod and nag Sol out the door because, as Sol plainly stated, "I liked getting ready for pretend school, but when it's real, it's no fun."

the televisions in the classrooms, permanent fixtures, as opposed to the occasional rolling-cart-bound treat that they were in my day

the fact that they watched a movie during the rainy recess today (whatever happened to indoor recess?)

the fact that he was given a time-out apparently for "scowling" at another child who hit him (curiously this occured during what would have been known as recess but was actually the sit-still-and-be-quiet-for-even-longer portion of the day)

the fact that I know very little about what happened in the six hours that my child spent away from me today, because I was able to get only bits and pieces from a weary Sol

the fact that when I went to pick him up someone gave me a hard time because the last name on my license was not the same as his, even though I made a point of clarifying the name thing on one of the many forms I filled out (she reluctantly released my son to me)

Things I like about school so far:

Sol singing a song in Spanish on the walk home (of course, when I asked if that was something he learned today, he said, "No. I heard it at home.")

We said we'd give it a few weeks, but I'm seriously contemplating not sending him back tomorrow. It certainly didn't help matters that I listened to this interview with Alfie Kohn on The Diane Rehm Show this morning about the pointlessness of homework.

Comments

[David Jacobs]

Thank you for sharing this. The end of indoor recess is a scandal! I'm on the edge of my seat to see what happens in day 2 (easy for me to say).

Funny that try as I might, I just cannot escape school anxiety. For my family and friends it is always around. It makes the "slept through my math exam" nightmares a little more plausible.