It was a step toward independence for seventh-graders, but for eighth-graders, it was a step back in time. At least that’s what they said.

The first day of school at the the two district junior highs went smoothly, teachers and administrators said. But some students had a different opinion.

&#8220It made me feel like I was back in kindergarten,” said 14-year-old Carley Parker, an eighth-grader at Warren Central Junior High. &#8220It” was a restructuring of the junior high day to include team teaching in a pod system – similar to what is done in the elementaries – and in which students are guided from core classroom to classroom as a whole under the supervision of a teacher.

The idea is to eliminate student rowdiness and misbehavior in the hallways between classes, but it also eliminates an element of freedom this year’s eighth-graders felt last year as seventh-graders. &#8220There were too many rules – especially for people like me who didn’t do anything to deserve this,” Carley said. &#8220I felt like I had moved away from all my friends.”

Thirteen-year-olds Josh Stuckey, Matt Waddle and Dustin Lewis didn’t like the fact that they were stuck with the same students all day long.

&#8220We don’t get to sit with our friends at lunch,” Matt said.

&#8220We didn’t get to see anybody,” Dustin said.

&#8220I didn’t like it at all,” Josh said.

But to the seventh-graders, the pod system was familiar, and because students still change classes for electives, many felt a sense of independence.

&#8220I thought it went good,” said 12-year-old Sean Adams. &#8220It was cool being around different teachers.”

Theo Walker, 12, agreed.

&#8220I liked changing classes,” he said.

The overall change did help with organization and discipline, said Tasha Thompson, an eighth-grade math teacher.

&#8220At first the students resisted, but as the day went on, they got better. I feel like it’ll be something they get used to doing,” she said.

Enrollment was up to 9,100 in the district on Tuesday, the first day of the 2006-2007 academic year, said Superintendent James Price. All schools are still enrolling for at least the next week, Price said.

At the beginning of last year, 9,000 students were enrolled, and the district ended the year with about 9,125.

The only glitch districtwide was at Warren Junior, said Price. About 30 students who rode to school with parents Tuesday morning were not on bus lists for the afternoon, and teachers and Principal Cedric Magee had to figure out which bus the students should board.

&#8220That was it, and that was nothing major,” Price said. &#8220Everyone I’ve talked to said it has been one of the best first days ever.”

He said parents driving cars were very patient Tuesday.

&#8220That’s always a blessing,” Price said.

Price said beside bus-tweaking, which will take place over the next couple of weeks, everything else seemed to be in order.

&#8220The first day and first week are always different, because until you figure out who’s riding and who’s being picked up, you can’t get into any kind of definite routine. But it won’t take long,” he said.