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


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My school is experimenting with a new schedule that shortens passing time -- the minutes between class periods -- from five minutes to four. Really, whats one minute? If you plan your day well, four minutes is probably enough time to take care of most things, a quick cup of coffee, a dash to the bathroom, a trip to the copy center, an e-mail check, a lesson plan reviewand then back to the classroom, a calm and collected teacher who has mastered the art of navigating passing time with grace and aplomb. If you sing this song quickly, as it was meant to be sung, you can fit it into passing time -- just dont forget to breathe between verses!

Passing Time

Passing Time is a re-make of that favorite Thanksgiving song Over the River and Though the Woods, but instead of Thanksgiving, it celebrates our ability to maintain the frenetic pace of school -- especially those few exhilarating minutes between periods. Imagine if the rest of our lives were programmed into regular periods punctuated by a frenzied few minutes to get promptly to the next required location. It isnt necessarily the most natural way of organizing ones day, but most schools have made it a way of life.

Out of the classroom and through the halls; its passing time again.
We only have four minutes, have to rush to fit things in.
Out of the classroom and through the halls; theres just no time to waste.
Another class will soon be here. I have to move with haste.


About the Lyricist

Eric Baylin has been a teacher for 38 years, working with a variety of age levels in both public and private schools in New York and North Carolina. He currently works at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, a K-12 independent school established in 1854. In addition to teaching art and photography to middle- and high-school students, Eric coordinates a program of collaborative faculty study groups in Packer's professional development program.

Out of the classroom and through the halls; its passing time right now.
Ive got to get prepared for my next class -- I dont know how.
Out of the classroom and through the halls; Im scrambling everywhere.
I lost my grade book once again. I ought to keep a spare.

Out of the classroom and through the halls; its not much of a break.
Ive got a bunch of copies that I really have to make.
Out of the classroom and through the halls; I hope theres no one there.
Ill have to break in line again, I know it isnt fair.

Out of the classroom and through the halls; move very quickly, please.
Theres hardly time to take care of the bare necessities.
Out of the classroom and through the halls; its passing time, you see.
Ive held it in all morning. Wow, Ive really got to pee.

Out of the classroom and through the halls; its finally after three.
At last, a chance to catch my breath and drink my cup of tea.
Out of the classroom and through the halls; were done -- or maybe not.
I just remembered theres another meeting I forgot.

Song lyrics Copyright© 2006 Eric Baylin