Back To School

Library functions have really changed over the years. Our librarian told me that the use has nearly doubled over the past three years. We have a library in each area of our city and each is a full service facility. Theresa and I saw a program that interested us about computers and signed up.

Unfortunately Theresa was unable to attend but I did. It was a pleasant experience and one I wish to repeat on a regular basis. The course was on do's and don't's with your computer. There were 60 places and you had to sign up. I arrived at least half an hour early and the crowd flowed into the seminar room. The room was all arranged and I chose a front seat. I did not want to miss anything.

I looked under several chairs to see if there was to be a door prize. None being there I settled in. The computer Dr. arrived exactly on time and started with a joke. Who owns a Dell computer? Hands flew in the air and he smiled and asked, "who found the farmer?". It got worse but he was great.

The average age of the students was over seventy and they were so enthusiastic. Each owned a computer and said they only owned one for less than five years on the average.

The Dr. went through all the possible items we should know and reinforced these with animated expressions. For one hour he never stopped. He was full of life and info and his audience was captured in his rhetoric. He suddenly stopped and answered questions. People told their horror stories and he explained. At exactly 11:25 it was over. Everyone clapped and he left.

What was remarkable about this was that here you had seniors who were still wishing to learn. They had fun. I remember when we as teachers tried to have our students experience the joy of learning. It is never too late to learn. Educators could learn from this as well. Make your topics relevant, exciting and meeting a need. We old folks were determined to have the Dr. back and carry us further along our learning path to help us communicate.