Beginning of School
Introduction: At least three topics will be touched on in today’s column. The leading one will be the beginning of a new school year and how this matter has changed over the years. I want to express a concern and fear of dementia and strokes. A brief comment about Joanne Owens’ funeral at the first Methodist Church last Saturday is certainly in order.
The ( early) beginning of a new school year:
It is that time of year again. Or is it really “that” time of year? Take a look and listen to conversations and we all can grasp the fact our young people ( and teachers) are headed back to the classrooms of local schools.
An opinion piece by one Maureen Downey on the blog “Get Schooled” expressed the feeling that late July and early August is much too early to go back to school. She accentuated her article with the simple expression, “Bring back summer.”
Yes, the summer has been short in every sense of the word. It has long been advocated in this space that when an athletic season comes to an end – football for instance – just stand on your tip toes and look ahead – a new season is right on the horizon. That isn’t only true of football; it is true of band, cross country, softball and all the academic pursuits. The expression “The March of Time,” the title of the short subject from the movies of a half century or so ago, expresses the situation well. Calendars and schedules can be determined and published with their appointed times for various activities and events. Time marches on and here we are at the beginning of a new school year.
It will not be within the scope of this writer’s opinion as to when school sessions should begin or end. Some things we all need to recognize are students in Georgia schools will be afforded 180 days of instruction. Teachers are required to work 190 days. Administrators and support staff are required many more days of work.
Before I leave this point, may it be emphasized that the idea of a three- month summer vacation for students, teachers or coaches is a ( affectionately called Dr. Bill) in Rome gave me the opportunity to say there were two great concerns of physical condition in my old age. Those concerns are strokes and various forms of Dementia with Alzheimer’s disease being the chief concern.
My heart breaks for those families with members suffering from either of these conditions. Probably none of us have escaped the sadness of loved ones living while afflicted. It is not a concern for me when expressing the desire to not experience either of these afflictions; it is a concern for those who would be burdened with the attention necessary to communicate with and care for me. They are the ones burdened and robbed of their more relaxed moments in later years. I remember one day when a husband came into a business where I was and the sadness he expressed after I asked him how his wife, who I could see sitting in their car, was doing. The husband sadly said, “Jerry, she has not known who I was for the past five years.”
May God bless those who read these words and know there are people who care and love you and feel your plight. Joanne Owens: A lady of vision Last Saturday, I joined hundreds of others and attended the funeral of Joanne Owens. During the course of these past days I have read Joanne’s obituary dozens of times. I have also read the loving and tender remarks posted by so very many friends on the Thomas Funeral Home website.
For a long while I thought I would give attention to only Joanne’s life and funeral. Then I realized after attending a very warm and sweet funeral and hearing tender words of affection, and reading all the comments that I could condense in a short statement the influence of the wife of my good friend L. P. Owens.
I simply say Joanne Owens was a lady of love and a lady of vision and contribution. Her attitude toward life and contribution to our community is nearly without parallel. I will remember with fond affection this lady who came our way from her home in Gadsden, Alabama.