Earnest goes to school

Like sand through the hourglass, so go the days of our lives—omygodomygodomygod, school’s almost back in session. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

How in the hell will I

(For students)

a) survive another year?

a) get the gear I need not to look like a dork?

a) maintain grades without working too hard?

a) get a date?

a) not get embarrassed in front of a crowd?

(For parents)

a) survive another year?

a) get my kid to school?

a) pay for the gear so my kid won’t look like a dork?

a) help my child get a diploma?

a) buy all those freaking supplies?

We can’t help you with much of that, truth be told. We can tell you to turn off the lights when you’re not in the room. We can also tell you that you’ll save a little money if your children ride their bikes to school. We can even mention that if whoever does the laundry hangs those school clothes outside on the line instead of drying them in the electric dryer, there will be a little extra cash for notebooks.

All those financial things collide when it comes to returning to school in times of economic uncertainty. There can be little doubt that more parents will be more reluctant to drive their children to school, football games, or even Academic Olympics. That means, starting Aug. 25, there’re going to be more students than ever before on bicycles and foot around the schools in Washoe County.

And thus, like sand through the hourglass, we have our annual back-to-school editorial asking drivers to slow down through school zones.

AAA insurance company, www.csaa.com, has this advice to offer as parents and students negotiate the 15-mile-an-hour zones around the area’s schools.

• Slow down in or near school and residential areas.

• Stop at all intersections.

• Drive with headlights on, even during the day, so children and other drivers can see you.

• Be aware of crossing guards and children on bicycles.

• Look carefully between cars and other objects where children may not be easily seen.

• Pay particular attention near schools during the morning and afternoon hours.

• Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students.

The bottom line is for the next few weeks, parents, students and W.C. Fieldses all have to have heightened awareness of wandering students, distracted students and behind-the-wheel students if all our kids are going to make it home from school safely.