And then, this past week, two pre-schoolers in our way-extended family presented me with other opportunities to think about young children. One, at age 2 1/2, was busy learning to ski in Colorado! And the other, at age 7, faced a serious but happily fixable health challenge in California. So little kids were on my mind.
So I got to thinking about schools.....and getting kids ready to go to school. And the school shootings that have become all too sadly common in our America. Grade school students dead? Check. Middle school children killed? Check. High school students as victims? Check. College campus sites for mass shooting victims? Check.
And then my brain began to remember getting our two ready for that first exciting day of kindergarden.....years and years ago. For Todd, in New Jersey, the school was nearby, so we walked, his supplies in some sort of back pack. For Megan the school bus pulled up at the end of our driveway here in Nashotah and she smilingly climbed on carrying her crayons and pencils and whatever else she was supposed to bring to the classroom.
Then I began to imagine a soon-to-be first day at kindergarden. Eager or shy little children accompanied by proud but not-quite-ready parents greated by their first grade school teacher. With the teacher's welcome the parents slowly walk back down the hallway and out the door. And then the teacher gives the newbies a few instructions. She (or he) takes them all back to the hallway out side the classroom door and shows them their lockers. She explains that they should find the one with their name on the front and there is a whirl of activity as little ones look for their first names....some with a little more assistance than others. When they are each in front of their own locker the teacher explains they should open the locker and this is where they will stop first thing each school day to hang up their jackets, and in the winter store their boots in the bottom. So light jackets and sweaters are shrugged off little shoulders and hung on hooks inside the metal locker.
And then the teacher explains they should each take out the dark blue vest hanging inside and look at the back - again it has their name on it! A buzz of excitement as the children put on the vests and tried to zip their own zippers.....again some needing a little assistance. The teacher shows the children that each vest has a hood on the back that can be flipped up to cover their heads if needed.
Back in the classroom the teacher shows each child to their own desk....again with their name in bright letters....and everyone begins to settle in for the exciting first steps in learning. This is where they get lesson number one. The teacher says...."Girls and boys I am so happy you are going to be in my room this year! We are going to have so much fun and learn so many important things! I can't wait to get to know each and every one of you and lead you through this school year. One thing I must be sure you learn right away. Every day when you arrive, even if you are not wearing anything that has to go into your hall locker, you must stop there and put on your blue vest. This will be your first assignment for every day and will continue every day you are a student at this school! We will talk more about this in the weeks to come....but just know that I want you to be happy and safe here at school....and your bullet proof vest makes this possible." The teacher smiles.
Now.....on to the ABC's.....welcome to kindergarden in America.....
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