Back to School for July 27,, 2025

 Hayter for July 27, 2025

School: The way Hayter remembers it 

I used to be a schoolteacher, but eventually gave it all up so I could retire. Teaching was a great experience for me, but there’s a time when a few get experienced-out. I say that, to say this – “The first day of school is about to hit!”

This year’s teachers must show up seven workdays before the kids show up. When I taught, it was called in-service. I don’t know what they call it now. When I began my teaching career, we showed up four days before the students arrived. On the fourth day, we were allowed to do our preparations for the next day when the students packed the hallways. 

This year, Conroe I.S.D. came up with a seven-day “in-service” program for teachers. They arrive on Monday, August 4^th, and finish up on August 12. For the first week, teachers will hear about the things they must do, some things they should do, and some things that could get their buns fired. 

There will likely be a meeting for new teachers. Their information will be rather positive. “They’re in a great school district; each one of them is God’s gift to young people. If you have any problems, ask someone for help. 

All Conroe ISD personnel will likely get to hear Interim Superintendent Dr. Ted Landry. I can only assume that he is the son of Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, who died in 2000. My sympathy to Dr. Landry for the passing of his possible father. I liked Tom the Cowboy Coach. Sure, he was hard to get along with and never smiled, but he managed to get some good quarterbacks. 

 My understanding is that from 2018 to 2025, Dr. Landry was the principal at The Woodlands High School. In March, he was hired by The Humble ISD to be an Assistant Superintendent. In May, he was selected as Interim Superintendent for Conroe ISD. There was no time in my life when I had two employers offer me a job at the same time. That, and only one girl agreed to marry me. We were 22 at the time. Her choices were slim. But let’s get past that, shall we? 

Used to be the first day of school started the Tuesday after “Labor Day.” The entire month of August was free for you to sit out at night or play Monopoly indoors. By the way, this year’s students have 11 holidays. Five of them are multiple days off. When I was a student in the Pasadena ISD, we got two days off for Thanksgiving, two weeks off for Christmas, two days for Easter, Columbus Day, and a handful of other one-day excuses to stay home. The words Spring and Break had yet to be placed together.

Before shutting this piece down, I want to share something with you about homeschooling in Texas. This State doesn’t give a rat’s rear about getting any grades from, reports of, or tests from any homeschooler. Yes, there are some homeschoolers whose parents hire ex-teachers to teach their kids. In doing so, I imagine they give tests, homework, and the like. And, they may make their children take a GED Test. None of that is mandatory.

However, the minimum requirements from the State of Texas don’t even keep up with the number of days or weeks in a homeschooler’s school year. From what I learned, your “teacher” could be as dumb as a rock and still teach your child. It’s easy because there are only a few requirements. For ages six to 19, there are no tests required. And no State employee will come to your house to check on how your kids are doing. The only subjects necessary are reading, spelling, math, grammar, and good citizenship. If you manage all of that, Texas does not award the graduate with a diploma. I think you get a Home Schooler Certificate, good for anyone who will accept it. Again, these are minimum requirements for homeschooling. 

I’ve read about homeschoolers who are as smart as, or smarter than, many who graduate from high school. That’s because their parents were likely able to hire instructors of math, science, history, English, a foreign language(s)… whatever. And there are organizations not tied to the State of Texas, which have several ways to help homeschoolers.

While there are more knowledgeable homeschooling teachers than in some public schools, I doubt many of them are as communicative with their students as most teachers in public schools are with a classroom of students. Yes, I’m a bit prejudiced about that.

However, a really good thing about homeschooling is that your kids don’t have to ride a bus. The tolerance level allowed on a bus depends solely on the bus driver. My bus driver didn’t put up with much. As a result, he didn’t have to spend as much time stopping the bus to straighten someone out.

As far as riding the bus was concerned, I had it better than most because Dennis, my big brother, rode the bus with me. Of course, he never sat next to me.  Dennis had a line drawn beyond which he would not step. But he would take up for his kid brother. 

            Yes, siree, starting a new school year will give many teachers and students something to talk about. But only for those who care to share. I retired from school two decades ago, and I finally made it to where I only remember the good things about it. I think God has something to do with that. I pray that he’ll have a lot to do with keeping the 2025-2026 Conroe ISD school year among the best for all. That’s a stretch, but it could sure happen.  

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hayter.mark@gmail.com