One Bad Apple......

So today we received the local elementary school calendar and the Back to School flyer. This is the school Malachy attended from kindergarten through second grade and would be going to if we weren't going to homeschool him.

As I was reading the Welcome Back flyer, it triggered a memory of when I was about my son's age.

When I was in first grade, I often saw one of the second grade teachers, Mrs. Roaklin, and thought she was the most beautiful teacher in the school, if not the entire world. She always had perfectly styled blonde hair, bright blue eyes and a smile that shined from ear to ear when I would say hello to her. She looked like a Barbie doll and dressed like one too. Over the summer, I remember wishing and praying that I would get Mrs. Roaklin as my second grade teacher. At the start of that school year, I received my class assignment and realized my wish came true. I was in Mrs. Roaklin's class! I was ecstatic! It wasn't very long before my happy world turned upside down as it was quickly understood that Mrs. Roaklin was a strict, no-nonsense type of teacher. And she didn't put up with anything. There was zero tolerance for talking, for not paying attention, for not completing homework, for not following directions, for laughing.....God help you if she caught you chewing gum or candy. She ran her class like a miniature boot camp, most of the kids paid attention out of an extreme fear. It was there while in second grade that I formally met our principal, Mr. Conte. I had many "meetings" with the principal throughout my elementary school years. Needless to say, I did not particularly care for school until I changed schools and my trouble-making reputation stayed behind.

Fast forward to a year ago: Malachy was entering second grade. During the summer, all he talked about was how he wished he did NOT get Mr. M. Mr. M is one of the few male teachers at the elementary school. He had recess duty throughout the year and his booming voice would carry across the black top. He is also a no-nonsense teacher and a lot of the children are afraid of him. Malachy was afraid of him. If anyone asked Malachy if he was looking forward to second grade, he would just tell them he hoped he did not get Mr. M.

A few days before school started, we went to see the class assignments that were posted in the office window. Lo and behold, Malachy was assigned to Mr. M's class. Maybe it was selfish of us, but at first we thought that the situation was a wee bit comical. Both Steve and I had believed that there is nothing wrong with a little strictness by a teacher. It was obvious, I had forgotten my ordeal with Mrs. Roaklin. This was not even a little bit funny for my son. Mr. M was more than just "a little strict". He was uptight, edgy and overbearing. The last half of Malachy's school year was filled with anticipation every day, as either I or Steve would drop him off at school. Malachy complained of stomach aches and headaches. At the end of the year, I too, felt his dread of going to school and wished there was some way I could save him from his nightmare. In the end, it turned out that I couldn't save him then and perhaps it was meant to be as it was one of the main factors in our decision to homeschool.

With the upcoming school year just a week and a half away, I'm pretty confident he is looking forward to this school year with optimism. Not one negative word has rolled off his tongue about school and/or third grade at all over the summer. Perhaps it's his belief that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know. :-D We shall see.......