Re:Surfacing; evening out the playing surface - beating the system.

"We should've learned by now..."

Odds and Evens: Even prior to our first formal lesson in math, the number line, we had ample lessons in how best to "count off", every other one, in forming teams..."Us" versus "Them". Even when we tried to circumvent the system, strategically plan, place ourselves in line, even getting out of line on occasion, faking that "I gotta' go", after which I got back, realigned, in order to get on the same team, as our "buds"...

"You'd think we would've learned..."

"Buddy System" As in "Some system!" In the context of a moving story that called "Them" to action, literally, as in calling into action...enlisting in the armed services, on the verge of WW II. A story that we all should have learned from, in trying to beat the system. Of our father's option of enlisting under the "Buddy System" (one which still exists, if you believe every word on the handout of the recruiters) -- one which would allow the enlistee to go into "Basic Training" together, if not be deployed at the same time, even "see action" from a similar viewpoint. Which was realized by our father and a legion of others: when he was asked the preferred branch, he spontaneously responded "Navy", after which he looked down with bewilderment, and saw his "papers" stamped "Army😕". His buddy experienced the opposite, a state of dismay. Which eventuated in them serving the same cause from somewhat different viewpoints and venues, and a cause many years later for great reverie about a great rivalry. One which we all get to view each fall, at the culmination of the college football season, The "Army-Navy Game!" One which results inevitably, both before and after, in..."Hats Off!" Richly deserved.

"We should've learned..."

Re-assigned: Every fall, just before the official first day of school, we all rushed to get in line, to get the best view of the "class lists" which finally, magically appeared on the front doors, but placed on the inside out, so as to eliminate fudging, erasures...in order for us to view the culmination of our mothers' attempts to commiserate, to place us in the same class with the preferred teachers, based on "word of mouth". A list which was strategically placed -- and timed so as to minimize the opportunity for parents to complain, to re-align, request re-assignment, to get us with our "buds". After which we all ran (i.e., before texting was a thing) to each other's houses to either celebrate or make fun of the "odd man out" who ended up with the "mean" teacher -- the latter based on rumor, word of mouth, the degree of which turned out to be disproportionate with reality. A lesson we eventually learned about the "true nature" of our relationships with our respective teachers, those we were assigned to (those that endured me)...that relating to them was more on "us" than "them"...our attitudes, whether we "came to learn"...

"Lessons learned" (?) As in issues that re-surfaced, well before the pandemic: as in we, whether the "We" are the formal educators, the ones who deliver the current curriculum to our children of school age, or "Them" are the ones who spend the rest of the waking hours with "our kids" and throughout the "summer recess" -- hours and roles that exceeded our expectations ("I didn't sign up for this!") during the several months of the official pandemic. You'd think it would have culminated in a mutual appreciation of "Us" and "Them" and the mutual reliance, alliance...that "We're all in this together"...in order to produce "stellar students" under any conditions, no matter how the "educational system" is aligned. And even when students themselves attempt to play us, put us "at odds" with each other, as in "Us" versus "Them"...

Re:Grouping: As in "It's time to re-group", to stay aligned. Hopefully, WE all have learned from the issues that keep re-surfacing..."I'm on your side!"