Fun

I am simply in awe of stories. Telling and listening to stories cultivates understanding and opens minds to more possibilities.

My View from the View # 1

For six years I was privileged to have owned and operated "The View" Restaurant at Indian Kettles with my now late husband, Brad. It was an amazing endeavor that we embarked upon together despite all expert restaurateur advice to the contrary. Without a crystal ball six years ago today we opened for what turned out to be our last day of business. We had great plans for a rousing end of the 2006 season combined with a celebration of Halloween - music, costumes, prizes, the works. We were excited and hopeful that this First Annual Halloween Party would be great fun and become a tradition for many years to come.

One never knows for certain about outcomes. All we can do is live life to its fullest. We had few guests that evening and were so disappointed that we closed the restaurant for the 2006 Season at the end of the evening. It was not fun. The 'stories' from the View are many. For me, a lifelong educator, jumping into building, owning and running a business  proved to be incredibly insightful in understanding how our education system and the business world are wedded in reality. 

Today I am choosing to share one of the View stories about a the son of one of our employees. I will call him Billy. Billy's mom was a hard working kitchen employee. She knew that I worked in the schools for my 'real' job.  On Sunday of Labor Day Weekend while we were working side-by-side scraping dishes she shared with me how excited her five year old son was about his fast approaching "First Day of School." She was so proud of him and his new attire for the big event.

School in upstate New York typically starts for students on Thursday which makes only two days for the first week. I assume it is arranged that way to give educators, parents and students an opportunity to ease back into the school routine after summer. On Labor Day I headed back to my school job. I returned that Friday evening to work in the restaurant. I was happy to see Billy's mom and was looking forward to hearing about Billy's first day of school.

Warily she looked at me and said. "Oh, Mary Ann. The first day was fine. There were no tears from Billy. He left me excitedly with his new clothes and new back pack anticipating the wonder of school. However, after getting off the bus on Friday (the second day) he looked at me and said, 'Mommy you lied to me.'"

"Mary Ann", Bill's mom continued, "I was shocked. I had no idea what he could be talking about and then he said, 'You told me school is going to be fun and it is not fun. It is sitting still and listening and I'm not going back, I already know enough.'"

I have reflected on this 'school is not fun' notion often. School should be fun. Learning is fun. Our children are so curious and somehow our education system manages to shut down that curiosity in many of our students the very first day of school. And so I wonder how educators are managing to put the fun back in their classrooms with all of the rules and regulations today. I know you are out there - teachers  having fun with their students every day. My hat is off to you! Keep up the fun approach to teaching and learning. My hope is for all teachers to find a way to put the fun in learning for their students and perhaps more importantly for themselves.

Billy should be in sixth grade now. I wonder how he is doing. I wonder if he can read and write for understanding. Billy, I hope you found at least one teacher that has made school fun for you. At least one teacher that has instilled in you the desire to learn, has supported you with their belief in you, and  has encouraged you to persist when the challenges arise.


"We are our stories and I am sticking to it."