|
On the first day of school, I always remember my own first day,
half a century ago now. I didn't attend kindergarten, but we had two weeks of
pre-school to get used to things before the other students came back from
vacation. I liked this time very much. It was just the first graders and our
teachers and I was satisfied. But then regular school began and I wasn't happy.
There were big noisy sixth graders, and the bad second and third grade boys
always teased us at recess. School wasn't so much fun anymore. Every day for
that first week, I refused to leave my classroom even to go to the restroom
during recess, and every day I wet my pants by about 2:00 o'clock.The teacher
was worried that I was sick or maybe had been bullied, but my mother simply
asked,
|
 |
"Why don't you go to the restroom?" I was forced to
face up to the fact that I didn't because I was afraid of the older
girls.Hearing this, my teacher asked one of the older girls to accompany me to
the playground and to the restroom every day until I got used to everyone. I
learned three things from this experience. First, mothers should be practical.
Second, teachers can be a great help to children. Finally, it's important to go
to the restroom in time, even if it's a scary place.
|
English Academy