summer musing

by desertjim

Here in the high desert of southern New Mexico, the kids go back to school on August 11. The local school administrators spent this weekend at their pre-school retreat up in the Sacramento Mountains, and the teachers report to their in-service workshops this week.

My wife and I just got back from buying a bunch of back-to-school clothes for our grand-daughter back in Illinois.We took advantage of New Mexico’s annual sales tax holiday on school supplies, backpacks and clothes.I suppose the UPS shipping fees will equal the tax savings, but our grand-daughter is well worth it. The tax holiday seems like a good idea for other states too. Parents can certainly use a break when getting their children ready for the new school year. Its estimated that New Mexico parents will save a total of four million dollars this year.

Even though I am retired from the classroom, I try to keep my hand in. Several times each year, I present middle-school inquiry science lessons. I also sit on the board of the group that supports 50 retired and active scientists, engineers, mathematicians and teachers that volunteer to do presentations in the schools. Volunteering, however, is not the same as having your own class of students.

About this time of year, I still get that feeling that its time to start getting my lab organized and my opening day lesson plan rewritten. I am getting better at just letting the feeling pass though. I am now able to watch the local kids lining up at the corner for the school bus and appreciate the fact that I can just grab another cup of coffee and the newspaper instead of my seating chart.

I hope that all of TEN’s members and readers have had a relaxing summer. Please take the time you have left before school starts in your area to reenergize yourselves. To help out, here’s a little piece of humor to provide perspective before the start of another year of over-emphasis on high stakes testing . 

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