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

It's coming: the inevitable end of summer. The mere mention of summer's end is cause for the onset of teacher anxiety dreams. Even with my 30+ years of experience, I dreamed in late July that I had forgotten to write my eighth grade reports. Here it was, the middle of summer vacation and I hadn't finished fretting over last year. And I didn't even teach eighth grade last year!
-- EB

The classic teacher anxiety dreams really kick in by August, providing excellent fodder for the lyrics of "The Teacher Anxiety Song." Why not put your fears and worries into song as the new school season approaches?

September's just around the bend. Oh, no! Oh, no!
I've got to get my act in gear. I know! I know!
I've started having those dreams at night.
I'm never ready; I'm never right.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

They're coming soon, and I don't have a clue a clue,
About the class and what we're going to do to do.
My mind and soul are still at the beach;
By mid-November I'm ready to teach.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

They all come slouching into class. They're bored! They're bored!
They roll their eyes; they yawn; and I'm ignored, ignored.
Their summers were great. They all have tans.
They aren't impressed with my lesson plans.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

I dream I can't control my class. Oh, me! Oh, my!
They laugh; they jeer; and I'm about to cry, to cry.
I wake up with this awful fear
I might have chosen the wrong career.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

They're coming to my classroom to evaluate;
They'll see through me and realize that I'm not so great.
I hear them whispering in the hall.
I see the writing on the wall.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

The parents start to call me at my home, my home.
They're angry and their mouths they start to foam, to foam.
The grades I've given are so unfair.
I try to reason but they don't care.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

I'm standing here in front of them; alone, alone.
They're pointing and they're giggling; oh, the class is blown.
I cautiously lower my eyes to glance;
I'm only wearing my underpants.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

It's only fall and June is far away, away.
I have to mark my calendar today, today.
A spring vacation I might take,
But first I'll plan Thanksgiving break.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

September's just around the bend. Oh, no! Oh, no!
I've got to get my act in gear. I know! I know!
I've started having those dreams at night.
I'm never ready; I'm never right.
Teachers have anxiety in the fall.

Song lyrics copyright 2005 Eric Baylin

Tuning our Schools with Laughter This is my 38th year 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!

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