One of the most serendipitous moments I've had lately involved my son (at least in a round about way). When Tyler was at a recent voice lesson, I was busying myself with a Sookie Stackhouse book and happened to look up at a few of his teacher's family photos. I noticed a woman who looked somewhat familiar, though thought no more about it during that lesson.

The next week, I found myself sitting in that same chair and looking in that same direction. (After all, I must avoid looking at my son while he's singing - at all costs!) So this time, I decided to ask the woman's name. Turns out it was my high school senior English teacher AND she is the sister of Tyler's music teacher!

Back in the day, my English teacher scared me to death -- even admitted in front of the class that she gave me the most difficult term-paper topic (and I was bright but not the smartest one in class). The reason, she said (just to me, thankfully), was because I needed to be challenged or I could become lazy. Did I mention that she handed out topics and said this to me during the first week of school? I just knew she had it out for me to fail 12th grade, and in turn, high school.

There were many moments of angst while in her class and completing that term paper. But there were good times too. Though she demanded respect, she made British authors interesting -- and I learned a lot that year, not only about literature, but about myself. Not all my grades were stellar, but I did make an A on that term paper! Probably to prove to myself that I could more than anything else.

We all know there will always be teachers that we like (or not), ones that demand respect, scare us a little or even make us laugh. She really did all of those things, but in retrospect, was probably one of the most influential adults during my young life. No, I hadn't forgotten her, just temporarily misplaced those memories with the ongoing realities of my son's high-school life. But for a little while it was nice to head back to the days of my youth, if only in my mind.

I don't usually speak out against public-school programming (not the proposed foreign-language requirement for middle-school students or even the controversial graduation project.) But I'm sure I�m not alone in my outrage over the WS/FC high schools -- new unified schedule.

Unified scheduling is the school system's idea of combining a 4-period block schedule (longer-length classes taken for half a year) with a traditional 7-period day (same 7 classes taken all year.) Until 2009-10, there were 4 high schools that were 4 block and 4 high schools that had 7-period schedules. With this new combination, some classes are shorter and held everyday and some are longer (block) for half a year, which is really confusing for everyone!

One of biggest issues concerning the 4-block schedule was the lapse that can occur between math levels and also with foreign language. (The lapse between English classes could also be an issue because of the integration of the graduation project into English curriculum.) Proponents of the 4-block system liked having 4 subjects, instead of 7, and therefore less homework/tests per semester, so it's believed that the students would have increased focus and performance. But even that is no longer of merit since there is now a mixture of block and 7 period classes.

It may also work better for some science classes because of the increased time for lecture and lab. All this sounds great on paper, right? The best of both worlds--if only it had worked that way. The reality is that many students were placed in a block math class with the same risk of lapse that administrators said the unified schedule would help avoid. And it doesn't seem to be exclusive to any particular student--affecting both honors and regular math classes. Why, oh why has this happened?

I've always been open to progress and change if it can make a difference in our kids' education, but don't see how this can possibly be for the best. I just don't see how anyone benefits from the unified schedule. Not the teachers, who don't agree with it and are forced to alter their teaching/curriculum to accommodate differing class lengths, not the guidance counselors (God bless them for trying to figure out this mess) and certainly not the students. And for them, it's not just high school this crazy schedule is affecting...it's their college futures.

 I've always been a supporter of public schools and PTA at all levels (including serving on the WS/FC PTA Council), but I have to say that home schooling is beginning to look like an attractive alternative. So I invite everyone to speak out in hopes that WS/FC School board will hear our pleas. Let them consider the negatives of the unified schedule when planning for 2010-11 and beyond; and do the right thing for the students by converting all WS/FC high schools to a 7-period system.

For the first time in my parental memory, I'm actually looking forward to the start of a new school year - at least for now - so there will once again be structure in our household.

I'm not sure what it is about teenagers that make them want to sleep all the time. I mean, are they missing the "awake" gene? Tyler had a wonderful summer participating in "Rent" at theater camp, but ever since that wrapped, it seems that his motivation to exist is gone. And as his motivation wanes, so does my patience.

His daily routine goes something like this: Wake (about lunch time), come downstairs and eat breakfast (or lunch) while watching TV, then check his voicemail, Facebook, MySpace, text messages etc. and head back upstairs for a shower. By the time he showers and gets through his face and hair routine, it's almost time to eat again. After dinner, it's on to more techno time and TV until bedtime, which seems to be later and later. We've been warning him how hard it will be to break the late to bed, late to rise habit once school begins, but I don't think he is taking us seriously.

 In an attempt to keep his brain from turning to mush, I've "forced" him to read a book by next week.

So, I'll try to remember these summer frustrations when I'm driving Tyler to his bus stop in the early morning next week. Although I'm sure the routine of school, clubs, music lessons, rehearsals and late-night homework will grow old soon enough; right now I'm personally looking forward to August 25!

I find myself playing Mom shuttle even more often these days since I have a pre-driving teen. Some days it feels as though I live in my car!

I think my current record is four round trips to Winston-Salem (from our Kernersville neighborhood) in eight hours. I really should have bought stock in a gasoline company.

On the positive side: Since Tyler started high school, our drive time together is one of the only places we share some alone time. Those of you with teenagers, especially boys, know what I mean when I say they don't talk much about what's going in their lives--unlike some girls who tell you more than you really care to know. So I will miss those impromptu discussions about his favorite new band, what movie he'd like to see, even what he had for lunch.

So with mixed emotions, a tiny part of me is happy that Tyler will be driving before long. I won't have to drop whatever I'm doing -- work, laundry, shower -- for his every whim. But, and a big one at that, I'll miss those car chats. And I suppose I'll spend all of that free time (not shuttling him around town) worrying that he'll make it home in one piece.

The curtain has closed on Tyler's summer theater production, "Rent," and what an awesome play it was! For those of you unfamiliar with "Rent," the musical which gave us "Seasons of Love" also contains controversial mature themes, such as homosexuality, AIDS and drug addiction. And for this reason both parent and teen had to sign a release before accepting a role.

I admit, I was a little apprehensive at first , but I knew this was the play Tyler wanted to be a part of, so I vowed to support him no matter what. Though this was quite an undertaking for 17 high-school students, the talented group was up to the task under the guidance of a wonderful director and crew. I have to say; one of the most impressive parts to me was the guy who played the role of Angel, a cross-dressing homosexual who ultimately dies of AIDS before the second act is over. This rising junior had to not only learn to WALK in high heels, but also SING and DANCE in them. I was in awe since I can barely walk in heels myself!

"Rent" was eye opening (and eye popping) in many aspects, but as much as we parents would like to think these issues don't affect OUR kids, they really do more than we want to admit. This production was a learning experience for the cast in many ways -- even including interviews with PFLAG members in order to gain more insight into their characters. And after every performance, the kids elected to collect donations for a local AIDS awareness group. I know all of this may sound odd, and perhaps unsettling to some people, but in our house, we try to maintain that every role/production is part of Tyler's growth in the acting process. And I believe we all grew a bit with this one. I know I did.