The office is deserted. There is little or no activity. Have I missed something? Is there some impending disaster looming? Have I missed a memo?
No, believe it or not, in Coweta County Georgia, the 2008 school term starts on Wednesday, August 6. Hard to believe, isn't it?
Summer vacation has changed since I was a student. We used to finish sometime in mid June and usually did not return until after Labor Day, with not many days off in between. Today's modern calendar allows for more flexibility, with long winter and spring breaks.
I'm not sure that I prefer the new way of doing things. Summer vacation as a kid was the greatest time in my life. Long lazy days, with nothing to do other than a perform a few minor chores and go to church on Sundays.
It was days of looking for "pop" bottles to take to the penny candy store to exchange for wondrous treats of every flavor and description. It was popsicles and Tootsie Rolls and licorice of every shape and color.
It was hour after hour listening to a "transistor radio," waiting for the latest hit from "The Beatles," "Herman's Hermits'" or "The Dave Clark Five." But with all good things, they must eventually come to an end.
It was day after day of creating our our fun, making treehouses, playing baseball, basketball, kickball, kick the can, kings in a corner ... anything we wanted to do for what seemed like forever!
There was no fear greater than the approach of the first day of school. Not the impending nuclear crisis in Cuba, not the last reaming strands of poliomyelitis, or the political turmoil in Washington.
We had nothing to fear but school itself!
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Richard Weisser, Broker, Associate Broker, Auctioneer, E-Pro, CE Instructor |
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All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
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Richard: It was absolutely a simpler and more innocent time. Kids could be kids. There was nothing for parents to fear to have the kids out roaming the woods all day. I long for those days, but alas, I fear they are gone forever. Thanks for taking me back there in memory!
Richard -- August 6th? Wowswers, thats early. We are stull on the mid-june and labor day schedules up here.
Richard,
I remember those early June to post-Labor Day summer vacations from school also. I also remember no air conditioning and sitting there stuck to your seat. I also remember taking an elective summer school class in high school where it was just too hot to finish the entire session so we would often get dismissed early.
Steve
Kids are just not the same. Modern technology keeps them from doing a lot of the things we did. My children are teens now but still enjoy swimming with friends. I do not think either of them know what it is like to scrape black tar off the bottom of your feet before you go to bed!
Richard - I am not sure what caused so many school districts to return early, it just doesn't make sense to me. I refuse to admit to listening to Herman's Hermits and the Dave Clark Five.
For awhile my kids were in year round school, they lived and we loved it. What flexibility on vacation schedules and less loss of learning between sessions.
School time already? Yowsers!
That is an early start, but if it works.
For me, summer vac was baseball, baseball, baseball. when I was 10, 11 and 12.
13+ it was, plow the field, disk, plant , cultivate, bale the hay...ect. These were in all reality, the best years of my childhood. It prepared me well for the future i had to endure!
Steve H #1...
It sure was. I can't tell you how many hours were spent "in the woods" as you mentioned. I guess we never worried about who owned them, only that they were there so we enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment.
Clint...
This has been shifting here year after year, and with both parents usually working, it seems to be better for everyone! Thanks for your $.02!
Steve H #2...
Oh, we never had air conditioning, but I remember the school being so hot in WINTER that we had to open the windows! Thanks for sharing.
Mel...
I got my comments mixed up ... see below!
Richard, it sure is a different day and age. Out here in Arizona, the shorter summers make sense but the days of playing outside and "exploring" are long gone. Great reminder post though.
Mel...
Scraping tar ... oh yes, we went barefoot often, and we burned our feet until our soles became as tough as leather. I think we really have more fun that they do now, because we didn't have to be always "doing something!" BTW Is that where the shoe thing evolved from?
Mike...
Year round schooling is better for so many reasons, it's just having trouble catching on! You litened to them and you know it! Thanks, my friend.
Going to the local swimming pool or just spending time with friends until dinner, no cell phones, no fears! We were able to go and do just let the parents know who we were with and where we were going. Popping in with Johnnie and asking if he could eat dinner with us.
OMG, Those were the days that kids will never be able to enjoy.
Don R.
Richard, school starts here the day after Labor Day. My daughter and I were shopping the other day and picked up a supply list. She is excited for school to start this year because she will be in 7th grade. Mixed classes and all. And she auditioned for choir and made it! So she can't wait.
The 6th? Wow. Chalk that up to one more reason I wouldn't want to be a kid today. Man, those lazy days of summer were the stuff of legends. I spent many a summer day with a group of friends hanging out at the river... trapsing through the woods. We had horses as a kid and we spent a lot of time riding through the woods for hours on end. The area I grew up in is still relatively rural but all that feels like a million years ago... then again, it darn near was.
Mark...
Arizona would be a great place to grow. Did you collect reptiles? My sister lived there for years and my nephews loved catching snakes and lizards! Thank you.
Don...
How could I forget the pool? We had one that we walked over a mile DOWNHILL to get there. We we were tired and had to walk back home, the hill was sure hard to climb! Thanks.
Lori...
HAHA I was NEVER excited about going back to school. I know she'll have a great time in the choir! Thank you.
Jesse...
Wow! Riding horses and heading to the river is indeed the stuff of legends. Thanks for sharing.
I hadn't thought about it Richard. You may be onto something here!
I for one am glad that things are the way they are. I do not have children at the moment, but this new way of doing things means that I won't have to put up with them as long for the Summer as my mother had to put up with me.
Mel...
Well of course I am! ;)
JL..
I think your mother's petitions led to the changing of the school calendars ... too late for any relief for her!
Too late for her, but I will gladly reap the rewards for her hard work.
I cannot imagine being back in school so early in August, that is still Summer as far as i'm concerned. I like the way it was for me in Jamaica. School went until end of June, we didn't go back until September and we had 3 week breaks around Christmas and Easter.