The Last Day of School "School's out! School's out! The teachers let the monkeys out. One went in, and one went out, and one went into the teacher's mouth."
My grandfather taught me that little ditty when I was a wee youngster. I really don't understand the meaning of one going into the teacher's mouth, but nevertheless; as the school year ends I find this little song going through my head.
Today was Jasmine's last day of school, before her lies a whole summer full of fun and no homework. When I was a grade school student, summer meant bicycles, the library, and arts and crafts. Life sure has changed in thirty years.
My primary mode of transportation as a child was anything propelled by my legs. We skated, walked and biked everywhere. Now, kids seem to be dropped off in vans everywhere. You see them run from the car to the house and from the house to the car. Busy multi-lane streets are a problem in this area, and I as a parent do not trust that a driver will look for a child in the crosswalk before making a right turn on red. So, in this area kids seem to be chauffeured to and from the park, library, and school. The good news is that they do ride bikes. We have a bunch of kids riding their bikes up and down the sidewalk, back and forth. Of course, all those kids are under six, and they are not allowed off the block by their doting parents.
I grew up within walking distance of my local library. I would spend hours there in the cool quietness. I would attend story hour and join reading clubs. Eventually, I would earn a degree in library and information sciences. With great shame, I will admit that Jasmine has never been to a library. There are several reasons. First, our home resembles a library. There are books everywhere. Second, our local library is over the railroad tracks, and is not within walking distance. The library is on a busy street, and really doesn't look appealing. I have had no desire to go into the branch library for Galewood. As if the list of things to do for the summer isn't long enough, introducing Jasmine to the wonders of a library, needs to be added.
Finally, summer was when I learned how to do various arts and crafts. Our library ran a knitting program, so I learned to knit. Our Girl Scout council ran a crafts camp (at that time we didn't call it a camp). For two or three weeks each summer, you could take a variety of classes. This is where I had my first introduction to cross stitch, mosaics, and decoupage (very big in the seventies). I also learned crafts such as quilling and photography. As an adult I have renewed interest in many of these crafts. Jasmine is still a little young for the crafts. I was probably about ten when I started crafting. When I stitch, Jasmine loves to watch, and wants me to teach her. Jasmine already has a stash of beginning projects (she doesn't know it yet). I bought all these little projects to do on rainy days. Also, Jasmine is lucky enough to be participating in a "Krafty Kritters" class one day a week.
In thirty years, it seems like many things have changed. All that has really changed is our mode of transportation, and a growing distrust of strangers. Bicycles still exist and kids still love to ride them. The library is still open. Crafts and crafting are enjoying resurgence. It all just seemed much simpler when I was a kid. Maybe the big difference is that I am no longer the child, and I am viewing everything through my skeptical adult eyes. Of course, it's my job to view the world through adult eyes, so that my daughters can enjoy the fun of summer.
June 12, 2000
©Jacqueline M. Carey
Jackie@jmcarey.com- Jackie's Homepage