In England there is one date in the school calendar that causes more feelings of dread than most: it’s not exams, a Christmas play or a parents’ evening. No, it’s the first day back in September.
I’m exaggerating, of course. Not everyone dreads going back, but there is no denying the feeling that this fateful September day represents: the end of summer, the start of the toughest term, new cohorts, perhaps a new job, and a general sense of “here we go again”.
I know the feeling - I’ve experienced it myself, especially as a younger teacher. However, having now spent many years working abroad, I can’t help but think we’ve got it all wrong.
Back-to-school celebrations
Going back to school in September should be a celebration - the next chapter in children’s educational journey as they grow and develop.
Certainly in Moldova, and across Eastern and Central Europe, where I worked for many years, 1 September is a day of celebrations for schools, heralding the new academic year and another seminal moment in young people’s lives.
Everyone dresses up for the occasion, especially for the photographs and the special welcoming ceremony outside in the bright autumn sunshine. Parents bring flowers for teachers to decorate their classrooms.
I used to joke that the florists of Chisinau probably did most of their trade for the year on the 1 September, given how beautiful teachers’ classrooms looked.
Ringing the bell
The day is marked with the symbolic ringing of a bell as students arrive. It is a special moment, and it reflects how highly valued education is in building a better society. This always sets the new year up strongly and positively.
In a region where education hasn’t always been an equal right, everyone understands that it is not something to be taken for granted; instead it is a freedom to be celebrated and cherished.
Now I’m back in the UK, I will be sad not to see this same level of celebration at our school, although I hope to replicate something close to it in the years to come.
In France, meanwhile, there is the phrase that refers to going back to school. This speaks to a whole mindset of returning and starting anew, with students and families preparing together for the new academic year.
There are numerous other traditions around the world that have a similar purpose: to celebrate and respect the return to education. It’s something we would do well to emulate in England, however we choose to do so.
Lessons from the recent past
After all, it was only five years ago that we saw first hand what happens when schools are taken away: the loss of routine, social structures, friends, face-to-face conversations with teachers, clubs, sports, games...
In short, the pandemic showed us the importance of belonging.
As such, let’s not see going back to school as a time of frustration that summer is over or of counting down the weeks until Christmas.
Instead, let’s recognise and celebrate the role that school plays in the formative years of every person’s life - and the role that we play in shaping and guiding that experience.
That work starts with the way we begin a new academic year and the promise of what lies ahead for every student. So let’s celebrate that and all it represents.
Rob Ford is a UK and international school leader
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