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Show "Backto School" j i - , . ; i 1 ...iin . . were home schooled and some were in charter schools, while others went to regular school. It was interesting to hear the boys talk about their school experience. Most lamented having to go back to school in August. Some said they hated school and dreaded going back. My heart ached for the boys who felt that way.1 We had some great discussions about learning and the opportunities they had in this great country if they were willing to work hard and study hard. Each boy had unique gifts and talents. They came in different shapes and sizes. I thought of how precious each of these boys is to their parents and in the sight of God. Some forty years ago I recall taking courses designed to prepare one to become a teacher. We visited a special school near Price, Utah. I will never forget the cute little girl playing on the swings. She was about seven or eight years old but had the mental age of a two year old. Her mother didn't want to hear her cry when she was a baby and so she sedated her by putting various drugs in her baby bottle. The drugs left permanent brain damage. While student teaching in the Jordon District at Brighton High School, I heard teachers complain about their wages, the kids, class loads, the parents and administration. I made the decision then that teaching was not about the great salary or optimal working conditions. It was about the children and if I didn't like what I saw I was welcome to pursue another career. After all this is America. When I walked into that classroom with my name at the top of the roll book, I looked across the room and saw a variety of kids. Some were there because the law said they had to come. Some came to socialize with other kids. Some came because their parents made them come. Some came because they loved school. Regardless of why they came, I was blessed to see the good in each child. One day a secretary in the office saw a child walking down mountain areas. Here it is summer time in the Rockies. My crew of young boys that helped harvest the cherries came from diverse backgrounds. I banned electronic devices so we could just talk, like the "good old days". A crew of young boys can discuss great philosophical questions and some pretty stupid things. As a young boy I remember picking fruit for various people once we finished the harvest in our orchards. We had what my Grandfather Bezzant called "early ground" and so the fruit harvest for others usually followed our harvestT One summer we picked for Jay McFarland. Mr. McFarland was a school teacher and like a lot of people back then they also had fruit trees. Working for Mr. McFarland was like going to summer school and getting paid. He was always teaching us things in his wonderful patient way. Anyway, the cherry crew got talking about school. Some by Mark Bezzant The cherries are all harvested and the ladders and picking buckets are put away for another season. Now the days will get shorter and shorter. It is hard to believe that on July 24 there was still snow on the ground at Mirror Lake. Spring flowers were just emerging. Before long there will be "frost on the pumpkin" in those high the sidewalk toward the school. She said, "Oh no, not another one of those kids." I felt sad for this young man. 1 knew his family. His older brothers had created problems in the school and community, but this boy wanted a better life and deserved one. A wonderful educator by the name of Vera Conder said to me, "Mr. Bezzant, be kind "Bezzant" continued on Page 7 "Bezzant" continued from Page 2 to all of your students. The A and B students will go on and do just fine. The C and D students will make more money than you ever dreamed of." Over the years I thought a lot about Miss Condcr's advice. We are fortunate to have so many wonderful educators in Utah and so many wonderful parents. Because of this, we do so much more with so much less. Out of our Utah schools have come some of the finest, best educated people in all the world! |