Doug Creamer: Back to school

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 26, 2017

It’s time for students to head back to school. I remember as a kid that the first day of school was the day after Labor Day and the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Sadly, Jerry Lewis recently passed away. Many of today’s youth have no idea of what a wonderful thing he did each year for Muscular Dystrophy. When I was growing up we used to watch parts of his marathon show every year, mainly to see all the stars who would stop by and offer their support.

The next day would be school picture day. Did your Mom make you take first-day-of-school pictures? We always got some new clothes which we wore to the first day of school. We would stand on our front steps and hope our mother would include our heads in the picture. Most years we had good first day of school pictures.

Then it was off to the bus stop, where eight to ten kids gathered. Buses did not stop at every kid’s house. We had to walk to specific places and wait. On rainy days, the mother closest to the stop would open her garage door and we waited there for the bus. On cold winter days, we just stood out there and froze. Things have really changed.

Today, many parents or grandparents drop off and pick up their children from school. Naturally, many of the high school students drive themselves. I remember driving to school. There was a church in front of our school that allowed students to get parking permits. I always chose to park my car down there. It was just about a block walk and much better for getting in and out. I try to avoid being in our parking lot when kids are leaving. The line is long and it can be crazy.

Regardless of how kids arrive, it is time to crank back up and begin the process of educating students once again. I have been cleaning and setting things back up. I put up some inspirational posters, hoping to create an inviting atmosphere. I have been reading through my curriculum objectives, refreshing my mind about what I need to teach. I will be digging through my files and looking at resources online to find new and creative ways to help my students master the concepts in my curriculum. I want to do the best I can for my students.

The real power to affect and change a student’s destiny doesn’t come through inspiring speakers, quotes, Power Points, or good planning. The real power comes through prayer. I will do my part praying for my students, our school, the faculty and the administration. I am writing to ask you for your help in praying for us, too. Your prayers can and will make the difference in whether the schools in your area will have a successful school year or one where we fail to reach students and change lives.

I believe in education. I believe teachers can help students understand the past so we won’t repeat the same mistakes again. I believe teachers can help students realize that math is vital to surviving in our society. I believe teachers can inspire minds to imagine where technology can take us. I believe teachers can help students discover the exciting world of science and how good health is within their reach. I believe teachers can help students discover outstanding writers who will take students on wild adventures. Every occupation in the world requires teachers to lead the way.

So I ask once again for your prayers. Your prayers can help students focus on learning. Your prayers can help to keep our schools safe. Your prayers can open students’ eyes to possibilities they never imagined. Your prayers and encouragement will keep students in school and engaged in the learning process. Your prayers will strengthen teachers as we endeavor to impart our knowledge. Your prayers make a difference.

I encourage you to pray for everybody in your educational system. Pray for the bus drivers and cafeteria workers all the way up to the superintendent. Pray for your kids, the neighborhood kids, your grandkids, for all the students who will be returning to schools … including private and home-schoolers. We need your prayers if we hope to have a positive influence on the students who will fill our classrooms. I love being a teacher and the opportunity it gives me to influence lives. Let’s all hope and pray it will be a great year!

Contact Doug at doug@dougcreamer.com