24
That
was Bob’s status update. No words, no pictures – just the number:
24.
Yet
I knew exactly what he was talking about.
24
days left of instruction! Summer is almost here!
Come
to think of it, there may have been an exclamation mark.
I
remember my first year of teaching. Thanksgiving break was coming up,
and I was anticipating having several uninterrupted days off. I took thankfulness to a personal new level. At that
time I had three schools, and the dozens of teachers I saw in class
or crossed in the hallway were bright and cheery for the upcoming
holiday. In fact, it was all anyone talked about.
The
kids, however, were much less excited. I couldn’t help thinking
about the mini-vacation, but when I asked them about plans or if they
were excited, the responses were subdued. Plus, they even had a few
more days off than the teachers.
I
talked to my dad about it. It was one of the very rare occasions
where he couldn’t help but make me feel like an idiot. At least he
got a good laugh out of it. “You thought the kids looked forward to
break more than the teachers? Buuuwwwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!”
Children
are so naïve.
In
advance, happy summer – I know that’s all any of my fellow
teachers are thinking about.
George
proposed that the last 10 days involve some kind of theme, a spirit
day that only teachers celebrate and the kids just observe and wonder
about. Yes, that is the spirit indeed.
