Back-to-School-Blues? Look for your “why”
by Kristin Taylor, Scholastic Press Rights Director
“I’m just a teacher, standing in front of August, asking it to be July 1.”
My friend and fellow press rights advocate Adriana Chavira posted that statement, which plays on the famous line from the rom-com “Notting Hill,” on social media last week, and I did the kind of laugh-sob so many teachers do this time of year.
I promptly stole it for my own feed.
Don’t get me wrong — I love my job. I’m starting my 27th year stepping into a classroom with teenagers, and there’s a reason I’ve stuck with it so long. But there’s no denying that sinking feeling at the beginning of August as I start to get Back to School emails from work. Like most teachers in the country, my blissful summer mornings with no alarm clocks are almost over, and it’s time for Summer Kristin to go back to sleep and Ms. Taylor to wake up.
As I start each school year, I’ve found it helpful to think about my “why.” Why do I teach? And, more relevant to our community, why do I advise scholastic media?
For me, it’s all about student voice. I love seeing new students in my program discover the power of journalism and start to feel a sense of agency and purpose. I love watching new editors learning what it means to lead and rising to the challenges leadership brings. I love the pride in students’ faces the first time they have a great interview, take an incredible photo or lay out their first yearbook spread.
I’m fortunate to work in a school that supports students’ press freedom, and seeing what that freedom does for my student journalists’ self-confidence and subsequent reporting takes away some of the sting of the Back-to-School-Blues. I know that isn’t the case for many of you. For you, part of the pain of August is thinking about censorship battles on the horizon.
I’m fortunate to work in a school that supports students’ press freedom, and seeing what that freedom does for my student journalists’ self-confidence and subsequent reporting takes away some of the sting of the Back-to-School-Blues. I know that isn’t the case for many of you
For you, part of the pain of August is thinking about censorship battles on the horizon. Even those who live in New Voices states know they may face pushback or even suspension — as the friend I cited earlier, Adriana, knows all too well. And for those in Hazelwood states or teaching at private schools, you may feel overwhelmed and alone.
I’m here to remind you that you aren’t alone. As we enter the 2023-2024 school year, remember you have an entire community of journalism educators to lean on. And when you have questions or need a sympathetic journalism adviser to talk to, the Scholastic Press Rights Committee is standing by.
You have several options to explore our resources contact us for support:
- For resources, such as Quick Tips for law and ethics, visit our website. We will be revamping the website in the next year to make it more accessible, but we have answers to most common law and ethics questions there and a rich history of blogs from SPRC members.
- For smaller issues, you can email or message us on social media with questions or concerns. The direct line to me is sprc@jea.org. You can also reach us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads (@jeapressrights), or Twitter/X (at least for now) @jeapressrights. No question is too small! Follow us on all the socials for content throughout the year.
- If you have a major issue, it’s time to hit the Panic Button. This will link you directly to a form to fill out so you can describe the issue you are facing. One of us will be in contact with you within 24 hours with an initial email and/or to set up a call or Zoom so we can help you through it. We also suggest you contact our friends at the Student Press Law Center to provide legal support. SPRC and SPLC work in tandem to support advisers and students.
On a personal note, I was elected to serve as Scholastic Press Rights Director in 2020 for a three-year term. Due to a bylaw change, my term was extended a year to allow for staggered JEA board elections. This is the final year of my term, and I will have to decide in the next few months whether I will run again this year.
Regardless of my decision, I have cherished the opportunity to serve you these past three years, through a time of unprecedented challenge and trauma (and the overuse of “unprecedented” — sorry), and I am eager to continue my work this year. I have an incredible committee of dedicated, skilled, knowledgeable advisers, and I am so grateful to each of them.
In particular, I want to offer my sincere thanks to Candace and John Bowen, who retired this spring after decades of dedicated service. Candace and John are the reason I pursued my Masters in Journalism at Kent State — and did a qualitative research study of the impact of press freedom in one private school — and they are the ones who pushed me to run for this position. They are stalwart, tireless advocates for student voices and dear friends, and I hope they know I won’t let them escape this SPRC work just because they’re no longer in the classroom.
Whether you are at the beginning, middle or end of your advising career, thank you for your service to your journalism students. Hold onto the joys of summer, remember your “why” and know SPRC is here for you as we head into fall.