Every year just before Labour Day weekend I find myself in the “back to school” sections of major school supply retailers,

breathing in the faint but unmistakable fragrances of exercise books,  plastic binders and pencil crayons, momentarily wishing that I was heading back to school the day after Labour Day.

As a “retired student” I wondered if my  nostalgic feelings about this time of year were shared by  retired  teachers, for whom “back to school”  also meant  “back to work.”

“Even in the middle of August I begin to think about school starting,“ said Bob Stover, who attended, then taught at Summitview Public School, and was later a principal and superintendent in York Region. “When I go into Summitview and climb the stairs, there’s always a rush of memory.”

“I can still smell the freshly sharpened pencils, and remember how pleased I was to get a new map for the classroom,“ said Nancy Stover, Bob’s wife, who taught at Unionville Public School and later at the Stouffville Christian School. 

“I loved going back,” said Mary Elizabeth Lane, who taught JK to grade 3 in North York. “I used to love setting up my room. Every year I went to the Teacher’s Store – it was a franchise where they sold all kinds of specialty school supplies. I’d get cute things for the bulletin board to spruce up the room for the kids to come back to.”

Jim Rehill, who taught a number of subjects, including English, music and physical education at SDSS and  retired 18 years ago, still feels a connection to the start of the school year. “Your mind can’t possibly forget what you did for 35 years. I was always excited to get back to teaching and coaching. But I remember one fall I went back,  looking forward to what I thought would be a championship four- man cross-country team, and the first day of school I found out that  the star of the team had transferred to Newmarket High.”

On the day after Labour Day I always  wear something new to work, just as I always wore something new on  that all-important first day of school. I wondered if  teachers in retirement had any ongoing traditions that recalled the return to school.

“A group of retired teachers in York Region hold a ‘ring the bell’ golf tournament on what would be the first day of school,” said Jim Rehill. “They’re probably celebrating the fact that they’re not going back, but it’s still clearly associated with the new school year.”

After they retired from teaching  to  Southampton, Ontario,  Bob and Nancy Stover established a tradition they observed every year the day after Labour Day. “We would  walk down to the Southampton General Store on the first day of school, around recess time,” said Bob.  “We’d have ice cream cones, and walk along Southampton Beach.”

For many retired teachers the most tangible connection to school days is the lifelong rapport  they  establish with their students. “I still remember most of their names, even all these years later,” said Mary Elizabeth Lane. “I often  run into people I’d taught in kindergarten and they’re thrilled to see me; you realize the impact you had on those kids.”

For Bill McKnight, the start of the CNE and the touch of fall in the air evoke memories of the  13 great years he taught at SDSS. Bill came to teaching from the private sector at age 42 and recalled “always being keen to get back to school.” He proudly remembers  coaching the Midget Girls Spartan basketball team to an undefeated season in 1987.

Bill embarked on another career after retiring from teaching in 2002, but when Labour Day rolls around he still thinks of his teaching days. “I really miss the kids. Nothing is more satisfying than teaching kids.”

What if school took place year round, as some advocate, with intermittent breaks replacing the traditional  long summer vacation, and eliminating  the ceremonial return to school in September? “I don’t agree with the idea,” said Nancy Stover. “There’s a wonderful cycle to the school year. We need that fresh start, and that sense of renewal.”  

So, here I am back in the school supplies section, trying to decide what iconic purchase will connect me once more to the magical feeling  of going back to school.  I don’t need a backpack, or a  Spiderman lunchbox, or a jumbo set of 100 coloured markers. So maybe I’ll  just  check out the back to school special on the computer system with the  25” flat screen monitor and complimentary printer… And to think in my day we were thrilled to get a new set of pencil crayons!

Categories: Features
Tags: