The time is drawing near for public schools in the area to once again open their doors to welcome students back into the world of learning. Preparations are being made by teachers, administrators, janitors, cooks, bus drivers and every other person associated with school to serve the multitude of young people who will soon be in their midst.

A drive to our school campus allows us to see and feel the excitement. Football teams are on the field practicing for that soon-to-be upcoming game. Volleyball is already underway. Soccer will be starting as well. Parents will spend many hours watching on the sidelines as their offspring participate in the competition of sports. Sometimes it will seem like the family is hardly ever at home.

I was reading the school rules on the web for my grandaughter's junior high. What a list of rules! As a former teacher, however, I know that they are necessary and reasonable. There are just some things that are unacceptable in the school climate. Forget those pierced tongues and sagging pants. School is out of bound for them.

The list of supplies needed for school and the prices for fees and lunches seem to be more than in the past. One rule said that if your child doesn't pay his/her fees by a date in October, the child can forget going on field trips and doing other extra things.

The other day I mentioned that as retired teachers, we may have left the classroom but we still care about education. Somehow I feel right at home when observing the beginning of school. Somewhere in my heart is a yearn to be back there. Maybe I will become a volunteer.

An interest in education is like a habit that is hard to break...and why would I even want to? Helping students grown in learning experiences is and will always remain exciting to me!

Thought for the Day: "Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." Philippians 2: 14-15

In rural areas such as this, broadband service continues to be unavailable. The acquisition and installation of fiber-optic cable to carry DSL to homes in the area has not materialized. What, then, is one to do for faster internet service?

First, there is internet satellite. A dish is placed in the yard of the user and a modem is placed inside and connected to the computer. This service is faster than dial-up, but still rather slow. Additionally, it is costly. When there is a storm in the air or other interference, surfing is lost.

A second option, and the one that I currently use, is the use of a cell phone type modem. This small device plugs into a USB port on your computer and you are online. The service is faster than satellite. Still, there are times when service "drags" and frustration mounts.

A local paper states that forums are being held around the state with broadband access being one of the subjects for discussion. I hope that plenty of people let our officials know that we MUST have better service to keep pace with our fast moving world.

I remember when it seemed that everyone had dial telephones and we still had crank phones. It seemed like a miracle when we finally could dial to get in touch. The day will surely come when computer service is readily available, too. Just like the telephone, it's a necessity!

A request I would like to make: Let our legislators know that broadband is needed in the rural areas of Ohio.

Today's Thought: "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." Heb. 13:16

The picnic pavilion at our local lake is a popular place for group gatherings. The location near the lake and in the shade makes an ideal setting for young and old.

The cost for reserving the pavilion is $40. If one chooses not to pay that, they must take possession of the place before someone else gets there to claim it.

My friends took possession early on picnic day and were able to hold on to the site until we all arrived. The tables were all so nicely decorated, a sign of sincere caring by those in charge.

So many kinds of delicious creations were displayed for the potluck dinner. We all ate to our heart's content. It was fun to see those people with whom we had worked so many years. A great time was had by all.

Not everyone participated in the cornhole game, but many of us gave it a try.

This first "annual" picnic laid the groundwork for future such events. We'll look forward to it again next year!

Today's thought: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1

The Governor is hosting "conversations" around the state as part of his effort to improve the "broken" educational system in the state. The well-planned forums are interesting in many respects.

First, attendees at the tapings are by invitation only. Those invited are from a variety of backgrounds, i.e. business men, active teachers, psychologists, nurses, parents, school board members and others who may have input. The writer attended as a retired teacher.

This particular forum was a brainstorming, out of the box, discussion. The governor presented principles that he believes must be implemented into giving our children a "good" education. The audience was given license to offer suggestions for improvement. There were no limitations on where one could go with "brain-stretching."

As a retired teacher, one thing I noticed was that almost every item that was listed as "new" was quite familiar to me. After thirty-four years of serving, I have been out of the classroom on a full-time basis for perhaps some twelve years. Many of the old-new ideas seem good, but somehow, we remain at a standstill in implementing most of them. The governor would like to change that. I wish him luck!

A second round of forums at a later time will focus on funding schools. These forums should prove especially interesting. So many ideas are floating around out there but it seems that our constituents at the state level are unable to settle on any of them.

Folks, without a good educational system, we are lost. It's time we took that message to heart and provided money without question for this essential to success. It's time to quit...as a friend of mine says..."dumming down education." I believe she is right. One clarification...I am not talking about passing tests, rather, it's time to start focusing on educating the whole child.

Today's thought: For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children." God commanded that the stories of his mighty acts in Israel's history and his laws be passed on from parents to children.

Let me begin by saying that I believe teachers and administrators, for the most part, do their best to accomplish the tasks that they set out to do. Children spend the majority of their time away from school. Most teachers do the best they can to make good use of the seven to eight hours that students are in school.

Teachers have no control over home situations and attitudes. When parents' attitudes are negative toward the school, that negatively will most likely result in negativity on the part of the child toward the school. Sometimes parents fail to realize children often emulate the values of their parents. A negative attitude imparted to a child from a parent can only hurt both parties.

As our pastor stated on Sunday, we need to examine ourselves and define our values. Parenting requires the same. What do I consider the right thing to do? What is the wrong thing to do? How do I choose? In many cases quick emotional reaction takes precedence over the use of common sense. We should think before acting.

How we spend our time, spend our money and treat other people defines who we are when it comes to values. How much time do parents spend encouraging their children positively about school? How much money are parents willing to spend on school levies,etc.?(The answer to that question is demonstrated in the number of failed levies that occur.) How do parents treat teachers and administrators and how do the school personnel deal with parents?

Our question should be, "What can I do to improve in any of these situations?" My answer would be to pray for guidance in establishing values, then take action as you are led. Take some time to sort out your thoughts. Quick actions can sometimes be detrimental. Give it time.

Today's thought: "The just man walketh in his integrity; his children are blessed after him." Pro 20:7