Academic
September marks the beginning of the academic year in UK, a fresh start just as the northern hemisphere sinks into autumn.
We often say, ‘It’s academic’ in a rather dismissive way, implying that a subject is not worthy of discussion, or else that whatever one may say will not make any difference.
Being called an academic can be considered a compliment or an insult.
Many years ago, I had a problem with my back and consulted a well-known sports physiotherapist. In the course of recording my details, he asked me what work I was involved in. When I told him I was a teacher, he asked, ‘Academic?’
It was obvious that I was not a physical education teacher, but I laughed, as I was then teaching seven-year-olds. Teaching young children is certainly taxing, but could hardly be described as ‘academic.’ The physiotherapist was very well qualified and pleasant, but had no apparent sense of humour, so I swallowed my mirth and muttered, ‘Academic.’
However, I did discover through him that I had scoliosis, which was the cause of my back pain.
It is strange that the beginning of the academic year does not align with the start of the New Year.
In the UK, the start of the school year was governed by the farming year. Children were required to help with gathering the late summer harvest, leading to the traditional long summer holidays. This busy time was finished by September. It also meant that Christmas and Easter provided natural breaks.
In the southern hemisphere, the school year begins in January, while in Japan, it starts in April, the beginning of the fiscal year, and ties in with the flowering of the cherry blossom. In India, it may start at any time between March and June, depending on the region and its climate.
In the USA, school years were also dictated by farming.
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense.
DeleteI don't think the word is used as any kind of insult here. I've never thought about any period of time being set by harvest time, but it makes sense.
ReplyDelete. . . and harvest times vary around the world.
DeleteSame reason here for Sept start of the school year. However, I did miss about 6 weeks of school for harvest.
ReplyDeleteEast End London families used to travel to Kent every year for the hop harvest.
DeleteMy older daughter works in the public school system, but she actually works throughout the year - with time off for vacation, of course.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting. She can arrange her time accordingly.
DeleteWith all due respect, I would say teaching seven year olds is academic. Child psychology, pedagogy, assessment, literacy and numeracy acquisition...that's academia, regardless of the students' ages, imo. I once read that a child's vocabulary at the end of Grade 1 is indicative of/correlates to their vocabulary at the end of grade 12. These pursuits are scholarly, right from the beginning and we all need to thank our first teachers.
ReplyDeleteThe first teachers are the nursery school teachers, and they deserve a huge debt of gratitude. Facing the dismissive glances of a class of three-year-olds is quite salutary.
DeleteI always understood the summer/harvest time reasons because it is the same here, just happens at a different time of the year. Of course this means our kids don't get a Christmas break, since they are already on holidays.
ReplyDeleteA longer holiday at Christmas would be an excellent idea, but it's not likely to happen in UK.
DeleteI have noticed some people sneer when talking about Academics. "Oh, so you don't actually have a proper job then?"
ReplyDeleteI don't know why some people do that - it's so demeaning to everyone.
DeleteIt's not much fun to be around people that have no sense of humor. And certainly anybody that sneers at what your profession is. No matter that profession, even the ones shoveling chicken manure, lol.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's job is important and should be respected.
DeleteWhen I finished my Master's, the University gave me sessions as a tutor while I considered what to do about a PhD at the same uni. The pay was dismal but the use of the word "academic" was a real thrill.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteIt makes sense that school years would revolve around such things as farming.
ReplyDeleteIt does, really, doesn't it?
Delete
ReplyDeleteYes, I have always regarded September as the time to make new starts.
I felt a sense of achievement the have a second career as a university academic.
Well deserved, too.
DeleteCool. I had never thought of it being different in other places.
ReplyDelete😊
DeleteAs well as the school year, in the US the school day itself was governed by farming needs. Early classes, out by mid afternoon with several hours of daylight for farm work. Farm families all worked from an early age. We're still clinging to those hours even when no kids are working on the farm after school that I know of.
ReplyDeleteFinishing school mid-afternoon allows time for extra-curricular activities.
DeleteIt always drove me mad that I had to manage September as the beginning of the teaching year, January for the calendar year and April for the taxvyear. Just... NO!
ReplyDeleteIt would be simpler to have everything starting and finishing at the same time.
DeleteAs the long school summer holiday was connected with farming, we should revive the tradition and start busing city kids out into the countryside in late July to labour for our farmers. They could sleep in barns and haylofts. Picking fruit and vegetables would be the priority but they could also do mucking out and sheep dipping. In my character-building scheme, mobile phones would of course be banned.
ReplyDeleteSounds brilliant!
DeleteIn the US schools start in late August or early September, also because of farming lifestyles of the past.
ReplyDeletePerhaps it's time to catch up with modern life!
DeleteWhen I was a kid in Massachusetts, school began the first Tuesday of September (the day after the Labor Day holiday, first Monday of September) When my girlies were little, school started the Wed or Thur. of the last week of August. This was to help with having to make up so many snow days in June. If school is cancelled because of inclement weather, those days have to be made up at the end of the school year in June. Massachusetts has a 180 school day requirment.
ReplyDeleteI can see that the weather could have a serious impact - too hot, too cold, too wet.
DeleteWhere I live in the Northeast United States, school begins the first or second week of September, depending on whether the first Monday in September falls during the first week or the second week of September. We end the end of June. However, elsewhere in the United States, many states begin school sometime in August and end in May. Either way, we have a summer break that also started due to agricultural requirements.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious when you think about it. 😟
DeleteI knew why school is in Sept for us but had no clue there are other places in our wide world that start in other months. the truth is I never even thought about it and I know that Australia and New Zealand are opposites of us so now wonder why I never wondered. ha ha you make me think about things I never think about.. maybe its the 'academic" in you. ha ha
ReplyDelete🤣😂
DeleteHi Janice - I hadn't realised that ... but thought there must be some quirk of fate. Academic - I had to wait a few decades before that got switched on - cheers to one and all - Hilary
ReplyDeleteWe always simply accept the status quo - why not?
DeleteI've heard arguments that we should reconsider the school year and when it begins, given that so few people are involved in agriculture these days. I'm not sure what the alternative would be. Aligning it with the calendar year, maybe? But then we'd be on holidays sometime between November and February, and who wants that?
ReplyDeleteActually, I would rather have liked that - those winter months can be miserable, cold and dank.
DeleteI think in all European countries schools start in September and University in October. The school holidays are not all at the same time but by counties between July and September otherwise there would be too many traffic on the road. Toby too has started last week. In German you also say academic, but in French it means that you are in a painting school !
ReplyDeleteForgot to say that the locomotive is really cute! a real "academic"
ReplyDeleteI'd love to be mistakenly thought to be working in a painting school!
ReplyDeleteOur school year started a while back.
ReplyDelete😊
ReplyDeleteInteresting how when school starts varies so much depending on location. In Pakistan I know that some schools end their term in March/April and after a very short break restart in April/May. They still have summer break but the starting of the next year means teachers can give the kids a large amount of homework and reading to do over the summer break.
ReplyDeleteIt's a challenge to get through all the work, for the teachers and the children.
DeleteYour reflection highlights how the rhythms of nature, culture, and economy have all shaped what we call the “academic year,” giving the term layers of meaning beyond the classroom
ReplyDeleteWe don't often appreciate the things that have moulded our lives.
DeleteIt does make sense that school years would revolve around farming.
ReplyDeleteFrom time to time a change in the academic year to four terms and not three has been mentioned.
I always feel for those pupils/students who suffer hay fever symptoms and have to sit important exams in the summer months.
Have a good weekend, I think most of England and Wales will be experiencing very strong winds Sunday into Monday.
All the best Jan
Some authorities have tried the four term year, with mixed success.
DeleteWe are watching the skies with interest. Keep safe!
When I taught 1st grade in Illinois, we usually started the first week of September. However, there were teachers meetings prior to that in August. And of course teachers were all in their rooms getting it set up in August as well.
ReplyDeleteEverything seems possible before the children arrive . . . 😉
ReplyDeleteThe school year starts in September here in Belgium too, and I think it used to be governed by farming as well. The academic year, meaning the start of institutions of higher education, like uni, usually only starts in October here. xxx
ReplyDelete