"Back to School Night" 2008

The last time I attended a “Back to School” evening was two years ago and it felt incredible attending this gathering tonight. Over two years ago my daughter was entering the second grade. Okay hang on for a second because my math is a little “fuzzy”, my daughter is three years older than my son and is three years ahead of him in school.

When my family departed California two years ago my daughter completed the second grade and subsequently I have been “away” for third and fourth grade. We are now all together as a family (thank God!) and my son is entering the second grade and my daughter is entering the fifth grade. With all that stated when my family departed my daughter ended the second grade and now my son is starting the second grade. Could this be déjà vu all over again???

It may seem similar but all of the uncertainty of two years ago has now subsided and I am certain of recovery which continues to bless my life. Last night my wife and I sat in my son’s classroom at his little desk and listen to his teacher outline the year in front of them. I don’t have anything to compare this to because I was absent for the past two years as my children attended class in New Jersey. I can say my son’s teacher is very much like all the teachers my daughter has had out here in California. There is a level of caring and compassion that I believe is extremely helpful to all of the students.

One of my priorities was to get the children back in the same school that my daughter departed two years ago for a number of reasons. One of those reasons had to do with keeping everything consistent as possible and another reason had to do with the teachers and principal at this school. Once again our children have been blessed with very good teachers. My son’s teacher does seem to care for the children and is all about getting them ready for the next grade. My daughter couldn’t have gotten a better teacher as her teacher is “the toughest” teacher in the school.

This may have been the first time where I really listened to the teacher and paid attention to what was said. The curriculum appears to be consistent with what my daughter went through back in the second grade but what seemed to bother me was the lack of science. I have never been a big fan of science and never really liked it when I was in school; however; I realize the importance. The focus for the children is on math and language arts which does make sense but there does need to be more of an emphasis on the sciences not just a throwaway subject at the end of the day.

I look at my daughter who is a very good student but she does not like science at all. I have read all of those reports which state that the children in the United States are following behind the rest of the world in math and science and now I see why. Language Arts, Mathematics and Science are three very important subjects yet the infamous “state testing” only focuses on Math and Reading. I won’t go on because I don’t have any solutions to this dilemma especially when the teachers in our schools have to pay for their own copies. I found this comment appalling because of my 19 ½ month stint in the California Department of Corrections where there is so much waste.

Yes, the teachers have to pay for their own copies because of the budget cuts. I guess the politicians and the state legislators don’t understand that it all starts and end with education. When I was on my “sojourn” I had to tutor many other prisoners because they couldn’t read beyond a fourth grade level. I am not saying this is the answer to the problems that plague this state in terms of crime but it is an integral part. If someone is lacking in education which many (a large majority of the folks I met) of my fellow inmates were than problems will arise.

This state can spend billions of dollars housing inmates for “public safety” reasons but can’t fork over money for copy papers that the teachers need to teach. This is tantamount to an employer saying to an employee; yes, you can join our company but you need to bring your own supplies and computer.

I had a conversation with another person about this subject and I was told I should run for the school board. This person did not know my pasts so I am a bit prohibited from seeking any public office but something has to be done. Once again I offer no solutions and I am just getting this off my chest because I was embarrassed for our society.

Maybe it isn’t such a big deal and my son’s teacher didn’t make a big deal of this but it is a big deal. My mother was a teacher for over 30 years and I never really understood the inner workers but now with my eyes open and the fact that I may become a teacher in a few years I can see the frustrations.

Okay enough of my bellyaching; the back to school night was wonderful and I was so happy to be there. I will miss the back to school night tomorrow for our daughter because I am taking my son to his Little League tryouts and the times conflict. My wife is going to the back to school night and I look forward to talking with her regarding our daughter’s teacher.