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Eric Baylin's
Songs to Brighten
A Teacher's Day

They tell him it's only November, but Eric Baylin knows that's "a third of the way" through the year -- definitely something to sing about! But then, it seems that educator/songsmith Baylin always has something to sing about. Join him in a chorus of his original autumn anthem "Only November!"

"Red River Valley" is a classic American folk tune -- although the 20- to 30-something set is less likely to be familiar with it. Hopefully, someone close by will know the tune if you don't. Find someone to sing with and have some fun in the diminishing light of these November days.

Oh they tell me it's only November,
But I'd swear that we've been here a while.
Just last night I was dreaming of summer;
Well I guess that I'm just in denial.

In September I came back all rested;
I was smiling and filled with good cheer.
Teacher workshops and tans had not faded,
Summer months had renewed my career.

Well we got here and hit the ground running.
We had only just entered the door,
When they handed us rosters and grade books,
And our lunchroom assignments, plus more.

Well it did not take long to remember
How much time that my classes required.
Oh it's not that I don't love the children,
It's just that I'm always so tired.

I've got papers to grade on the weekend,
Every night lesson plans to prepare,
And there's one meeting after another,
It's no wonder I'm getting gray hair.

Pretty soon we will break for Thanksgiving;
By my count that's a third of the way.
And I know after that one there're only
Three more weeks to the next holiday.

While I whine and complain that I'm tired,
I would never give up this career.
Still it's hard to believe it's November,
'Cause the first months have seemed like a year.

At our school, we've sung these songs at faculty meetings or other gatherings. When there is no venue for group singing, I put them on our e-mail system. I'm told that individuals and groups have sung them spontaneously in offices.

Song lyrics copyright 2004 Eric Baylin

Tuning our Schools with Laughter This is my 36th year in teaching. Ouch! It's hard to see that in print. About 5 years ago, I had one of those great "aha" moments that has given new life to my role as an educator. I've always been interested in working to change schools in ways that enhance and support learning, but I'd gotten to a point in my career when I saw that all my serious, effortful striving played only a minimal role in change. The "aha" came when I realized that I could, at least, change my state of mind by laughing at the very things that bugged me most. OK, maybe not everything. But at least the little everyday stuff that nags at me and drags me down. That thought became fodder for songs about school and teaching, which I started writing as a way of helping myself (and my colleagues) survive the year with an intact sense of humor. I still work hard to change the things that stand in the way of student (and adult) success in schools. But now I wonder -- seriously -- if laughter itself isn't one of the soundest pedagogies, a "best practice" that can help us re-tune our schools and shift the culture to one that genuinely embraces wellbeing and lightness of heart as sound supports for learning. I wouldn't mind working at a school whose mission statement included, after those ever-familiar phrases, "lifelong learning" and "supportive, yet challenging environment," the words And this is a school where we love to laugh!

Article by Eric Baylin
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Copyright © 2004 Education World