Back-to-school: The most wonderful time of the year

At my children’s school, teachers are being asked to write a profile of themselves for the PTO newsletter. I was asked to submit questions so we might get to know them better.

Here are a few of my ideas:

Where did you go to school?
What previous experience helped you prepare for brilliant children who love to argue?
What do you like best about teaching?
What do you do in your spare time?
Does vodka at night help you deal with over-protective parents?
What is your favorite antidepressant?
Tell us about your family.
Please tell them we’re sorry ahead of time for running you ragged this year.

As a former teacher, I feel for the professionals who are getting ready this week to educate our children. They are underpaid, undersupported, and underappreciated by just about everyone in our society. Teaching is a thankless job, unless you count the kids that actually do grow up and, despite all adversity, actually make something of themselves.

Teachers are heroes. And this one’s for them.

Forget shorter days and cooler nights, this past week many parents took part in an event that signals the end of summer around here: back-to-school shopping.

Mothers maneuvered carts through crowded aisles carrying lists provided by their children’s schools. They carefully checked off glue sticks, composition notebooks, and pocket folders. Uniforms and backpacks were tried on and discarded, only to be snatched up a moment later by someone else.

My twin sons took half an hour picking the perfect lunchboxes, debating the merits of several superheroes before finally settling on plain, but more *grown-up* selections. I allowed them time to work it out, remembering my own struggles between Nancy Drew and The Bionic Woman. Nancy won several years in a row.

As a mom, I enjoy rituals that begin each new school year. Frazzled parents are doing more than searching for specific pencils. They’re supplying children with the tools they need to learn. As a former teacher, I appreciate their efforts. However, school lists should contain a few more items to gather before classes begin. These additional supplies aren’t found at Target or K-Mart. Still, your child won’t make it through the school year without:

Guidance – Schools can be overcrowded and scary; most children learn more from fellow students than from textbooks. Have dinner with your kids and get to know their friends. The complicated issues students deal with every day, from elementary through high school, would land most adults in therapy. Children cannot handle it alone.

Support – Turn off television and help with homework. Be willing to pick up kids after tutoring sessions and reinforce lessons at home. Come to school and meet their teachers. After all, parents and teachers are on the same team and odds are we’ll win if we work together.

Patience – When all else fails, take a deep breath and smile. Use humor to deal with the frustrations of youth and encourage within children the idea that nothing is insurmountable. They need to know that a loving family will cushion even the most devastating blows.

These are essential items on every teacher’s wish list. Go shopping for papers and pens; dig deeper to stock up on the rest. Remember that a parent’s participation is the most important tool for a successful school year. Teachers need your help. And so do your kids.