In the week before Labor Day I noticed that a number of comic strips had the theme “Summer is about over… it’s time to go back to school.”  The typical “message” was that kids were upset and their moms were ecstatic that school was about to start.The “kids hate to go to school” stereotype is quite common, but my first few days of school this year felt so different than the world portrayed in the comics.  From the youngest beginning schoolers to the seniors in their last year, students seemed quite happy to be back at school.  Whether it was catching up with friends that had been apart for a couple of months or students talking to teachers, the atmosphere around campus was phenomenally upbeat.  And for me, the start of school marks the end of a lonely period when the hallways are silent and the classrooms are empty.  That ends the day I get to greet students and families with a wave as they enter campus for the first day of school.

A number of years ago my family lived in Ohio; Lisa (CWA ‘00) and Laura (CWA ‘02) attended a K-8 private school that I served as headmaster. Sharon and I had some good friends with two daughters about a year older than each of ours who attended a local public school.  One Friday night when Lisa and Laura were probably about 11 and 9, our families got together for dinner, and conversation turned to weekend plans.  Lisa excitedly talked about a groundbreaking event that was taking place at school on Saturday.  After a short silence, our friends’ older daughter said “You mean you’re going to school on a Saturday?”  “No,” replied Lisa, “I’m going to school for an event.”  After another pause, the other girl said, “I would NEVER set foot on my school’s campus any day I didn’t have to.”  And this girl was a very strong student who went off later to a fine university.

How sad that someone would feel this way about a place she spends so much time?  And what a contrast my daughter’s experience!  Schools like Charles Wright are so much more than places to suffer through the “3 Rs.”  CWA is a community of adults and children who genuinely enjoy each other’s company and who value deeply the time spent together.  It’s no surprise that Charles Wright alums often report that they made lifelong friends at CWA.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if every school-age child in the country could have this kind of school experience?