When I was a kid, hot August days and nights meant that summer was peaking and would soon wind down. We looked forward to going back to school in late September — cooler days meant fall and soon, the changing color of leaves.

Some schools in the Bay area are back in session this week, with others to begin on Monday. But it’s still summer! the child in me wants to say. How can kids be back in school already?

Right now, families should be spending their last carefree weekends at summer cottages, swimming and taking old boats out on a lake. Moms should be preparing hot dogs and burgers for hungry kids who come to the table barefoot wearing ratty shorts and tshirts.

I don’t remember going back to school while the sun still beamed hot rays down on us. Back in the day, the weather served as a line of demarcation signifying the end of summer vacation and the start of school.

But that’s not how it is today in my part of northern California. Back-to-school sales began in July–CRAYONS! FOLDERS! NOTEBOOK PAPER! and kids are already sitting at their desks fanning themselves against the hot August air.

It’s just so wrong.