IT’S GOOD TO BE A TEACHER AGAIN (8-2004)

Labor Day used to be synonymous with the beginning of the 
school year. At least that’s how I always remembered it.

When I was in school, I recall starting classes just a few 
days before Labor Day. I was all set to go back to school, 
even a little excited. But then we would get this annoying 
day off before we even really got started.

Of course, by the time September was half over, I was over 
school for the year, and couldn’t wait for the next holiday. 
But Labor Day always seemed to fall too early in the school 
year.

School starts earlier now. At least I get the impression 
that it does. After all, Labor Day isn’t even here yet and 
school has been going on for at least a couple of weeks. 
But the school year is about 180 days long, as it has been 
for as long as I’ve been a teacher. So maybe those later 
starts were just a figment of my young imagination.

This year, I look forward to a little respite early in the 
school year. Yes, I’m doing something I haven’t done in 
more than 14 years. I’m teaching in the public school 
system. I taught for 13 years starting the year after I 
graduated from college. Then I did other things. I’m glad 
to be teaching again.

My first round as a teacher, I remember remarking to my 
fellow teachers that it seemed like the students were 
behaving worse each year. My colleagues would all agree. It 
must have just been my not-so-young imagination kicking in, 
as I slowly burned out on the occupation. Because in my new 
first year of teaching, I recognize the same student 
behaviors as I recall from my very first teaching job, in 
Eminence.

Although most of my teaching career has been at the high 
school level, this year I’m teaching seventh graders in 
Indianapolis. It is a reflection of that first year as a 
teacher when I was fresh out of college. It was the only 
other time I taught seventh grade.

The first week of school has been very similar to what I 
remember those long years ago. Seventh graders are 
remarkable people. They are still curious about their world, 
sometimes overly so. But most of them are willing and eager 
to learn. 

Of course, there are always the show-offs and “bad apples.” 
But more often than not, the bad apples are just the ones 
that require a little ripening. 

Yes, it’s going to be a challenge, but one which I am 
willing and, hopefully, able to tackle. I love watching 
young minds grow. And I am proud once again to call myself 
a public school teacher.