It’s my son’s first week of middle school. Yes, think Greg Heffley from the books/movies “diary of a wimpy kid.” Not that he’s wimpy per se but everyone is a little self conscious and freaked out by big transitions right? He has a longer bus ride, two locker combinations to remember, 6 different teachers, the trumpet to learn, he’s swamped. So, the boy comes home one day and he looks exhausted like I do after a day of corporate meetings and he says “I love middle school.” I was more than a little surprised but it was the next statement that almost floored me. The boy never expresses emotion and never loves two things at the same time. No, it’s not what you’re thinking, he doesn’t love a girl yet, I’m not ready for that. Instead he says, “and I love social studies because of my teacher.” Maybe it struck me extra hard because of the boy’s usual lack of emotion. Maybe it got to me because  loved social studies too or because it was the week of 9/11 and an important election year and I’m a little sensitive. It could also be the fact that social studies often gets forgotten in the middle of all often misguided and overblown talk of student achievement in the areas of math and reading. Whatever the reason, I was thrilled. It’s great to pay attention to social studies and as his teacher defined it, that includes current events, geography, politics, government, history and culture. After all, what good would mad skills in reading and math be if you don’t understand the world we live in. Later that same week, I attended an alumni breakfast for my alma mater. The new president was just rolling out the new five year strategic plan. Don’t fall asleep, stay with me. One part struck me after this experience with the boy. Let me sum up. One part of the plan focused on how much the world is changing in the areas of politics, technology and demographics and that it’s less important to collect credits in college and more important to build competence, creativity, and character. This week, I thank Mr. Larsen for doing just that with the boy.