There was a creek near my home and my little friend and I would try and catch fish. Once when our street flooded my little friend and I built a raft which we navigated by using a long pole. I built a tree house in our big tree beside our house which I fitted out with cushions and books to read. I began to write stories when I was quite young and that was always one of my favorite occupations. Since I was never fearful of getting up in front of an audience I was often chosen to take part in school programs.
When it was time for school to start a teacher would stand at the top of the steps ready to lead the children inside after they lined up on the sidewalk. As I look back on my early years I often wonder why young active children were required to sit in a seat all day in school. Before public schools were started, only the wealthier families provided formal education for their children. Parents taught their own children and if they wanted their children to learn a skill they did not have, they allowed their children to be taught by a neighbor who had such skill. Our country is probably as successful as it is because of public education for all children. In the early days, some parents considered formal education not necessary.
They expected their children to work on the farm as they themselves did.
Summer vacation exists because in the early days children were expected to work on the farm during the summer months. Even though most children live in towns and cities these days, the summer vacation is still maintained. There are many summer programs which provide learning activities for children. Going to summer camp is also an option.
I remember when my children were younger and they spent summers doing jobs for the neighbors—mowing lawns and such. I never remember my children moping about and wondering what they could do in the summer months.
Now it is time to get to bed with the circulating fan turned on. Hopefully this heat wave will not last too long.