Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
Whether it's your first day of kindergarten or you first day of your last year of graduate school (or something in between), have a great first day! You may have already started, but I operate on NY time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmbOWm_UqYo&feature=related
First day for me! Ready to go face down a lecture hall of 75 students.
First day?! FOR WEAKLINGS. I've been here for a week already.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
Did NY kids actually have school today? There were an awful lot still running around with their parents and buying school supplies at Staples this morning as of 11:30. I went this morning hoping it would be a little calmer, because I did assume they would be in classes this morning, but, alas, it was chaos (and, honestly, more because of the behavior of some of the parents than the kids).
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
I'm pretty sure all NY state public schools started today, but I may be wrong. Also, private schools often start later, and many NYC children attend private school.
Oh, the days of first-day-of-school Staples...
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
See, private schools starting later is the opposite of what I grew up with. We always started sooner, usually the week before Labor Day (but sometimes two if Labor Day fell oddly late in September), and got out a good week or two before the public schools at the end of the year.
My class went really well today, but as usual, my university book store has dropped the ball. I am teaching a 75-student lecture with every seat filled, and the book store only ordered between 25-35 copies of the assigned texts. This has happened every semester that I've been at my current school. Granted, some students prefer to order online and you might end up with surplus books, but with a class that is completely full and has a cap of 75, you'd think they'd order more than 25 copies.
I had to push back a key component of the first assignment because of it. Not the best way to start the semester.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/11/10
AEA- They still get out earlier than public schools. They just aren't in school as often... (Longer vacations, too.)
AC- University book stores can be a pain. They always run out of books and charge an arm and a leg. I generally just get mine from the public library- the university library either puts them on reserve, or if another student requests the book (which always happens), you have to give it back...
I always try to make sure that a copy is left on reserve, but then you have the complications that you detailed re: requests. The bookstores just make things needlessly difficult.
Oh God I hated the first day of school every year! We moved a LOT, and I attended 12 different schools in 12 years. That first day at the bus stop each year was a feeling I will never forget. On the other hand, as an adult I now see that 12 schools prepared me for every type of situation and I have no problem speaking to anyone. I guess the moving opened the door for me to meet any situation head on. Even opening nights of shows I've been in weren't as rattling as that first day on the school bus!
Good luck ALL students!
Videos