Going back to school

Whenever September rolls around, one of the first things I always think about is “Back to School.” I am 75 years old, and out of all those years. I spent 50 years in school, either as a student or teacher, so I have many memories of going back to school on the first day.

Growing up in the village of Dorchester, I saw little of my friends during the summer months. We had no social media or summer classes. We had no summer sports, so this meant I would not see many of my friends until the fall. So, going back to school was an exciting time for all of us back then. I must admit that as time went by, the excitement of going back to school in September did start to wear thin. However, when I began teaching in 1967, on that first day of school, enthusiasm returned.

I had a difficult time sleeping the night before my first day as an official teacher. I couldn’t stop thinking about the daunting responsibility I was soon to be encountering. Parents were entrusting to me the care and education of their children for an entire year. I couldn’t help but wonder if I were indeed up to the task.

Despite being retired from teaching for almost 20 years, I once again had several “Back to School” experiences this past summer. I made a return visit to Elk Mound, where I first began teaching in 1967. A former sixth-grade student of mine, Tim Sivertson, has been Elk Mound’s school board president for many years. I contacted him, asking if I could take a tour of the Elk Mound Schools to see how they have changed. He graciously agreed, and I spent a delightful morning touring the three beautiful schools they now have. What a change 50 plus years have made.

I also went back to the Fall Creek Elementary School, where I taught for 29 years. Melissa Dimmit, the teacher who replaced me when I retired, gave me a tour of the building where I spent those years, and once again, I was amazed at all the latest technology and updates. If I were to attempt to teach again, I have the feeling I would need to be totally retrained.

Over the years, going back to school has changed for both students and teachers. I suspect that students going back to school this year will be even more excited and perhaps apprehensive after the challenging 2020 school year. Hopefully, everything will be back to normal, and both teachers and students will have a very successful new school year.

Ken Anderson, the “Mayberry Guru,” can be reached at themayberryguru@gmail.com and www.themayberryguru. com

BE OUR

G UEST

KEN ANDERSON “THE MAYBERRY GURU”