给儿子学校当cashier

３个星期前收到parents-teacher conference通知时，PTA也征求愿意作volunteer的家长，帮他们看管书摊。俺想，反正要去学校一趟，就多花两个小时也无妨。这不是，昨晚就去参加儿子的parents-teacher conference，顺便又去卖了１个多小时的书呢。

前面的家长和老师聊得兴起，把俺的时间占了１／３呢。进去和老师一谈，２分钟就可谈完：“Your son is doing great. He and 3 other boys are working together at 2nd grade level in reading and math. You see the report card, all are S+.  Indeed,  he's done all for the 1st grade by my standard.”

不行，哪能就这么容易地让老师胡弄过去！“That's great. However, I noticed at home that he's very emotional recently. I wonder whether there are somethings going on in the school. Does he get along with other kids well?”

“Really? He gets along with other kids very well. Indeed, I gave him and the other 3 boys a research project, which is above the grade level, a few days ago, asking them to work together to figure out a list of questions. They did well, even at the beginning they did not know how to work as a team.”

“I need to talk with his after-school program teachers, maybe something is going on there. I am always concerned his social skills, and we paid a lot of attention in preschool and daycare on this. You know, his birth date is just one month behind the cut-off line for school. We were very happy that he got more opportunity in the class to help other kids since he's the oldest kid. I would appreciate a lot if you can assign him more duties in the classroom so he can work in a team or help other kids.”

“That's a good thought. You know, my brother was the youngest in the class. He suffered a lot and became mature in college. It's good thatyou are paying attention on this.”

“We learnt the lesson from my daughter, who skipped a grade in middle school. It hurts her a lot. That's why we are monitoring my son closely. I appreciate a lot if you pay more attention on his social skills. ”

。。。。。。。

聊了近十分钟，才告辞出来，去学校的gym看书摊。PTA的chairwoman教我怎么算钱－－这美国的税是无孔不入的，在学校买书也不能少。一个计算器，一个记录本，就和PTA的财务主管坐在一起当起了cashier。买书的父母孩子真不少。一个小时也卖出几百块钱呢。等人少的时候，才有机会和财务主管聊天，知道这是PTA的主要资金来源：PTA从网上买来老师推荐的书。网上买，有折扣。再按书本上的零售价买给家长。这中间的差价就是PTA的盈利。老师会给孩子推荐一些书， 也给家长一个list，上面是老师的classroom里想要的书。家长可以买好，再捐给老师。为鼓励家长捐，在每本书的封面后写上捐书人的名字。昨晚看到不少家长捐书。

到８点多，人渐渐地少了。我也把儿子老师的wish list拿过来，挑了两本书，让一个学生在书摊上帮我找出来。付了钱，也放到donation的大箱子里。

回到家，把捐书的事给儿子说了：“You know what I did today? I just picked up 2 books from your teacher's wish list, and donated to your classroom. I put your name on the book as the donor.You can read the books next week.”

“Really, you put my name on the book? I will find out next week and read them。”

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（１１／１０／２００６）