歪歪漫画

It鈥檚 time for your first big test, students. It鈥檚 the beginning of the school year, and now we will ask you what you learned thus far. 

Minnesota spends and receives a lot of money each year to put you through school. Asking what you learned is a reasonable request. If we didn鈥檛 ask you, we wouldn鈥檛 be very responsible. 

Here鈥檚 what I believe you should have learned. This is just one taxpayer鈥檚 opinion. You might also ask your parents to ask you the same question. 

The first question is, 鈥淲hat must you do to succeed in school?鈥�

If you want to be successful in school, you must know how to go to school. The older you get, the more critical it is. I like the 鈥淕RAD鈥� approach. 鈥淕鈥� means get involved. 鈥淩鈥� means raise your hand. 鈥淎鈥�  means attend class. 鈥淒鈥� means do your work.

If you do all of these to the best of your ability, even though you may not like school, you will do just fine and eventually become a 鈥済rad鈥� and graduate. 

I hope you learned something about your teachers. They are good role models for you. After all, they graduated from high school and college, so they must know how to go to school. I am sure many struggled, but they persevered and made it. 

Here鈥檚 my second question: 鈥淲hat are three things you learned about one of your teachers?鈥� This doesn鈥檛 include, 鈥淗ow much is nine times nine, and where is New Zealand?鈥� 

歪歪漫画 is all about relationships. It鈥檚 about relating to teachers, cooks, custodians, coaches, principals, and your parents. Of most importance, school is about relating to your classmates. 歪歪漫画 will be much more fun if you learn to appreciate others.

Even though this may seem like a dumb topic, it is the most important thing you can learn in school. Getting to know your teachers and the people around you is nearly as crucial as it is for teachers to get to know you. 

Here is my third question. First, pick five classmates. Now, for each classmate, answer this question: 鈥淲hat one thing did you learn about each one that you didn鈥檛 know before?鈥�

Now that鈥檚 fun, right? Showing an interest in others will benefit you for the rest of your life. 

My fourth question is: 鈥淲hat are three things you will do this school year where you participate in activities outside the classroom?鈥�

For younger children, name just one thing you will do outside the classroom. For me, this is what I found most enjoyable. Graduation was the worst day of my life because I didn鈥檛 want school to end. I suppose that鈥檚 why I became a teacher.

Did you know that students who participate in a school鈥檚 extracurricular activities (band, sports, drama, etc.) will find more success in life than students who do not participate?

OK, here is a seemingly unimportant topic for you but one of our best-kept secrets. Students whose parents are involved in school do better in school than students from parents who are not involved. It鈥檚 true.

For example, the students of parents who attend parent-teacher conferences do better than those who do not attend. Why? They realize the importance of education and want you to regard education as a mindset, as part of your culture.

Our fifth question is, 鈥淒id your parent or guardian attend the most recent parent-teacher conference?鈥�

I will give you some bonus points if they attended or plan to attend. I will give you bonus points if you participated in the conferences. Did you?

My sixth question is the best question, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not much and 10 being a whole lot: 鈥淭o what extent are you having fun in school this year?鈥� 

If you aren鈥檛 having fun, you are missing out on something, and to have a good year you need to work on this. I am not talking about 鈥渇un,鈥� like harassing your teachers or doing something stupid in school that would get you into trouble.

I am talking about the kind of fun you would have by being around your friends, taking an interest in your class, going to school events and just enjoying every minute of your day. Here is something you probably won鈥檛 believe, but the more fun you have in school, the better you will do. 

My seventh and last question is just for the seniors. It has two parts. Part one is, 鈥淒o you expect to graduate?鈥�

That鈥檚 it; this is what school is all about. If you do, give yourself a pat on the back. You will achieve one of life鈥檚 primary goals. You still have time to increase your chances if you don鈥檛 expect to graduate. Make a plan today to help you get your diploma. Have a teacher or your parents help you. 

By now, you are wondering if I will ask you anything you learned, like, 鈥淒id you learn algebra, or did you learn about the importance of the March on Washington in the 1960s or where Pearl Harbor is?鈥�

These things are essential, but sometimes it is hard to remember what teachers call 鈥渃ontent.鈥� Unless it鈥檚 pounded into our heads, we forget very quickly.  This is why thinking about your education after high school is a good idea.  

I hope you did well, and if you didn鈥檛, remember that tomorrow is always another day. Have a great rest of the school year and don鈥檛 forget to have some fun. You won鈥檛 regret it. 

Riddle: What can run but now walk? (Answer: water. I hope you feel like running to school almost every day.)

I want to thank the Bemidji City Council for allowing me to update them on 100%. In case you are wondering, the glass is half full.

John R. Eggers of Bemidji is a former university professor and area principal. He also is a writer and public speaker.