Excitement’s in the air as new school year approaches

Can August really be half over? Yep. The new school year lies just around the corner. Students already are stocking up the clothes and supplies they will need to greet another season in the classroom. Waiting for them at the door with new lessons to be learned will be their teachers.

A new school year presents a new beginning. There’s anticipation on the part of both the student and teacher as they look forward to going down that road to new discoveries from their books.

For students, there’s the distinctive scent from a new paper tablet, the satisfaction of a freshly sharpened pencil, and the curiosity about what new wondrous thought will present itself today. For teachers, there’s the challenge of capturing that wandering mind of an unattentive student and lighting a fire under those so capable of great things but not living up to their promise.

School boards and administrators feel the intellectual growth of the students is enhanced by pleasant facilities, appropriately designed for a learning environment, and there’s no dearth of new construction in the Shore area to provide them.

But a school is more than bricks and mortar. It’s the educational package offered inside.

Under pressure for performance on state tests, districts all over are examining their course content and updating their text books and workbooks to meet the new standards.

It’s a costly process and no one feels it more than the local taxpayer. Smarting under the heavy property tax burden, homeowners have let their state legislators know of their discontent, which has led to a crisis in the funding of public schools. A proposed state constitutional convention to find a better way to pay for the schools — a scary thought for some — has gained momentum but isn’t there yet by a long shot. The answer remains elusive.

That’s all heady stuff. If one wants to contribute in a small way to the future of our students in the Shore area, they can donate school supplies, or money for them, to the annual School Supply Drive being conducted by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County and Monmouth Mall. The two are teaming up to fill a bunch of backpacks with school necessities to give to youngsters whose families have limited funds to outfit them.

Going off to school with a full complement of supplies makes learning a little easier and a lot more fun for every kid.