Expressway: Grade 7 more fun on second try

In 1969, I entered North Shore Middle School in Glen Head as a seventh-grader and in 1984, I re-entered North Shore Middle School as a seventh-grade teacher. And, I've discovered, I'm having more fun the second time around.

I have danced with dozens of girls, gone ice-skating, roller-skating, traveled to Boston, Washington and Philadelphia, attended seven bar mitzvahs, six "Nutcrackers" and served as a skinny Santa Claus.

But, it wasn't this wonderful the first time around.

As I can testify, one of the most difficult things in life is to be 12 years old and in the seventh grade. I remember my first day in middle school quite vividly. Most of my classmates were strangers. I was naive. When everyone started off to their first-period class after homeroom, I panicked: Where were they going? (I had come from a self-contained elementary school class and hadn't heard of switching classrooms.)

Occasionally an eighth-grader would taunt me, and I didn't know how to fight back effectively. I didn't develop a sense of humor until, oh, about 10th grade. And talking to girls was a bit beyond the realm of possibility.

But, now, 42 years later, things are a lot easier. I know where to go after homeroom. Most of my students might initially be strangers to me, but I get to know them by the end of the first week. No one picks on me in the hall. And girls find me more personable at 55 than they did at 12. (When they ask me to dance at the seventh-grade party, I graciously accept, rather than make a beeline for the bathroom.)

These youngsters are on the cusp of becoming teenagers, but still maintain their adorableness. Once in late January, when for some unknown reason they decided to announce how much they weighed, a roly-polyish boy announced, "128 pounds." When his stunned, lighter classmates looked at him, he explained sheepishly, "I'm still carrying a little extra holiday weight."

Often the boys (who are half the size of the girls) stroll up to my desk for a chat. There we are, looking each other right in the eye (except they're standing and I'm sitting), discussing whatever is going on in their busy minds.

But, I guess what I particularly enjoy hearing is what they do outside of school. Katie Kopetic makes bracelets to sell, with the proceeds going toward cancer research. Aspiring singer Brooke Demetri recently performed before 25,000 spectators at the U.S. Open tennis tournament. Peter Christensen is studying his fourth language.

I too am making a name for myself after the 3 p.m. bell. It seems I've become a minor hit on YouTube (even if my name was misspelled). During our study of the Roaring Twenties, a student surreptitiously filmed me teaching my students the Charleston. At last check, "Mr. Schacter Dancing" has received at least 1067 hits.

From the Charleston it was on to the hustle as I joined 11 other teachers in our school's fundraiser, "Dancing with the Teachers." My partner and I spent hours perfecting our moves and had a lot of laughs. Although we didn't win the competition (sigh), we hope to be back next year, perhaps doing a salsa.

I hope I never graduate!

Reader Saul Schachter lives in Sea Cliff.