10 Reasons I Love the Beginning of a New School Year

By Jeremiah Dollins

August 26, 2008

 

By the time school winds down in June, I find myself—like a marathon runner—hunched over and out of breath. Nothing seems better than a long summer vacation. Before the final bell rings, I’m already imagining lounging outside in the shade with a cold Sprite in one hand, and a book in the other. I can smell the sea and sand, and look forward to spending late nights watching TV without fearing the alarm clock the next morning.

 

Despite these visions, by the end of summer, as the days get hotter and more oppressive, cabin fever sets in, and all I can think about is getting back to school.  I trade in Alice Cooper’s anthem ‘School’s Out’ for the Beach Boys’ ‘Be True to Your School.’ For me the beginning of a new school year is even more exciting than the beginning of the actual new year. Why is that?

 

Well, here are 10 reasons.

 

1. Air conditioning. Because electricity is so expensive, I have to keep my house at around 80 degrees everyday. Since I’m a large man, though, I sweat a lot, and 80 often feels like 180. So, it’s nice to get back to the classroom and its brisk 72 degree temperature.

2. Meetings. By the middle of the year, teachers are a jaded bunch of people, with lots of opinions and smack-talking jumping off their tongues. Usually their venom is directed at meetings, which seem pointless and time consuming. At the start of the new year, though, everyone is happy to be in a room together listening to the principal talk about stuff that will be deemed useless and stupid at a later date.

3. The Honeymoon Period. The first couple weeks of school are usually called ‘The Honeymoon.’ Students seldom act up, and everyone’s on their best behavior.

4. Getting to know kids. With all the stuff teachers have to teach, it can be hard to really get to know kids outside of their schoolwork. The first week is a great time to build rapport that will be necessary later when everyone is overloaded with work.

5. Experimenting. I’m an experimenter. Every year I like to do things a bit differently to see if there’s a better way. During the school year, this can be confusing to kids, especially if they are already used to a particular procedure. With a fresh start comes fresh ideas.

6. Everything’s new! Not only are kids on their best behavior, but they are looking good and snazzy, too. They’re coming to school dressed well, with new backpacks and school supplies. It’s awesome.

7. Boo! I’m a very strange person, prone to playing air guitar in class while walking around the room monitoring student work. I like to jump around a bit, and teach with the voice of a preacher. This has a way of freaking students out, and it is great watching their eyes widen with horror as they watch me get all weird.

8. A clean desk. I really like being organized, but as the year goes on that becomes increasingly difficult with all of the student work, test results, and mail that comes across my desk. With the start of a new year comes a clean desk. It’s the only time I feel close to godliness.

9. Chatter. There’s something electric about the chatter of students at the beginning of the year. Everyone is so excited to see their friends again and ready to start the race. It’s contagious.

10. A fresh start. At the beginning of the year we are tabula rasa, a blank slate. Our past is merely a series of successes and failures that have led us to now. Our future is a series of successes and failures which we have control over now. No matter who the student—or teacher—is, the beginning of the new school year is like an erased chalkboard.

 

So, get ready to start writing on those chalkboards!