Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

From The Counselor's Desk

by Donald Crane

The class of 1996 will have memories that none of their predecessors could have imagined. They will say, "The year we graduated, the school burned."

It has been trying for everyone, and I suppose the seniors may feel a bit cheated. For some though, old memories may have been revived.

A few days ago, I took something over to one of our teachers who is using a classroom in the old part of the elementary school. As I entered the room it was like stepping back into time.

I used to eat lunch in the elementary cafeteria, and I remember very well how some of our students looked at that young age. It didn't take much imagination to visualize them as second graders sitting in those small desks. Perhaps that has crossed some of their minds. I'm sure every grade had its pleasant and painful memories.

As I walked out toward the bus loading area, I looked down the south hallway, and another old memory materialized. Many years ago, I passed that hall on my way to the cafeteria. In passing, something caught my attention. I stopped.

With my back to the wall, I slowly inched forward and peeked around the corner. There stood my daughter in the hall. Evidently, she hadn't seen me pass. She stood facing the wall and looking sorrowfully at her feet. Occasionally, she would risk a peek sideways to see if someone were coming. The look on her face clearly told me that she had rather be somewhere else.

For a few moments, I mentally debated on what to do. My first impulse as a parent was to march down to her and demand to know what she had done to get placed in the hall. But the more I watched her, the more I realized what a "pickle" she was in. As a teacher's child, she not only had to worry about the principal catching her -- but her own father!

The expression on her face told me she was punishing herself far more than if I was doing it. Guilt has a way of doing that.

I decided to leave, clearing my throat and coughing loud enough to catch her attention, but not looking in her direction. I never mentioned it, nor did she, but I'm sure that remains in both our minds.

So perhaps our present temporary situation will help to revive a few memories for our seniors. Perhaps they will remember us even more, and hopefully, there will be pleasant memories.

This has been an exceptionally good senior class in the respect that they didn't seem to develop as much of that "senioritis" that afflicts so many classes this time of year. They're a smart class, too. Ninety percent of them are making plans for college, technical or trade school. That's phenomenal! We've never had that large a number in any senior class before. From all the faculty and administration at PHS, congratulations senior class of 1996.