Three neighborhood boys stopped by as I swept the sidewalk after mowing. I smiled and said, “Only two weeks until school starts, guys.” They looked disappointed and rode off on their bikes.
They came back a few minutes later. “We have something to tell you.” I stopped sweeping to listen.
“I don’t like school.”
“I don’t like school, either.”
“Me, too.”
“You don’t like school?” I tried not to sound too surprised. Who wants to give up the Tom Sawyer freedom of summer for shoes, a schedule, and sitting at a desk in rows? Much as I love teaching, I sometimes have to psych myself for it, too. “You don’t like spending all day with your friends? You don’t like learning new things?”
“Yeah, well …” and the conversation stalled.
“So what grade will you be in?” I asked.
“Third grade.”
“I’m in third grade, too.”
“I’ll be in second grade again,” Joey said.
“Yeah, he got held back,” Joey’s buddy added.
Joey is already taller and bigger than his friends who are going to third grade. I found myself wondering whether this was the first time he’d been held back. Wondering he had an undiagnosed learning disability. Wondering how he would do on those standardized tests.
I loved school, but it was a constant source of praise and reinforcement for me. For Joey and kids like him, it’s a constant source of frustration. Under those circumstances, I wouldn’t like school, either.
Two weeks left, guys. Make the most of them.
