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

Do you refuse to admit to your non-teaching friends that the school calendar -- with its frequent breaks -- is one of the great joys of teaching? Eric Baylin doesn't. In fact, he's busy singing the praises of the coming winter break. Won't you join in?

How many times have I heard from non-teaching acquaintances, "Well, of course, you get all those breaks." And there's no question about it; one of the great joys of a teacher's calendar is the ample time away from school. If those non-teachers only knew how much our emotional and physical wellbeing depends on those breathing spaces away from the frenetic day-to-day demands of the classroom! If they only knew…they might sing a different tune. Or we could just sing it ourselves!

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming winter break.
We all need some relaxation and some fun, for goodness sake.
If we had to wait much longer, then our heads would surely ache.
It's time to take a break.

This is why I am a teacher;
Breaks are such a special feature;
I could certainly be richer;
But I can't give up those breaks.

Lawyers and investment bankers don't get all these breaks,
So they make a lot more money; is it money that it takes
To be happy and fulfilled in life? It's teaching kids that makes
Us need so many breaks.

This is why I am a teacher;
Breaks are such a special feature;
I could certainly be richer;
But I can't give up those breaks.

Oh, there're two weeks in the winter and there're two weeks in the spring;
There's a weekend for the presidents that February brings;
But the eight weeks in the summer is most certainly the thing
That makes me want to sing…

This is why I am a teacher;
Breaks are such a special feature;
I could certainly be richer;
But I can't give up those breaks.

School vacation dates vary, of course, so substitute your own to make the lyrics work for you.

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