An Ode to the Classroom Rhythms of Fall: ‘Now Is Sowing Time’
Farming and Education: A Generational Connection
In Donald Hall’s poem, the farmer prepares to head to the market. It takes me back to my roots, just a few generations away from a family farm. Every August, when school bus routes pop up and back-to-school sales hit local stores, I can’t help but reminisce. The school calendar, perched at the edge of our society, still echoes our agrarian past. I find myself counting my figurative potatoes, reflecting on my teaching days and my daughter, who’s now a teacher herself.
The Melodies of the School Year
Even in retirement, August brings that familiar pang. I no longer experience those dreams of classrooms filled with eager students. But the rhythm of the seasons still captivates me. As autumn paints the landscape, crops lie ready for harvest. I’ve become an observer of the cycle: planting, harvesting, and making that all-important market run, just like in the poem.
The Intertwining of Poems and Classrooms
“Ox Cart Man” resonates with me during the early days of the school year. Each October, I’d dive into this poem with my new English classes. Sharing it with fellow teachers or just reading it to myself became a cherished ritual. It’s a celebration of the agrarian cycle, where the farmer’s labor culminates in a walk to Portsmouth with his carts filled with treasures: potatoes, flaxseed, birch brooms, maple sugar, goose feathers, and yarn. It’s not just a poem—it’s a reflection of life itself.
Finding My Place in the Cycle
This poem crosses paths with my own experience as a teacher. By October, the classroom rhythm takes shape. It feels like every ox in the yoke pulls in sync. Students are growing into their fresh sneakers and backpacks. The seating arrangements start to feel like home, and it’s time to harvest knowledge.
The Classroom as a Marketplace
Think of the fair as our classroom’s marketplace—a hub of learning. Every day, we read, write, and discuss, eagerly pulling our carts filled with knowledge along. Just like farmers harvest in June, schools are now in their sowing phase. We build on last year’s learning, filling our metaphorical wagons with new seeds of knowledge to plant. Each year brings new challenges—fresh seeds to try out, essential lessons waiting to be unearthed. Some knowledge stays with us, while others get fed into our classrooms to help maintain our family business of education.
A New Generation Steps Up
Speaking of family, my granddaughter has just started preschool. Freya is living her own little adventure in the Butterfly Room alongside her stuffed sloth, Mango. Her day is packed with circle time, nap time, and plenty of playful exploration—plus, she gets to learn colors, letters, and numbers, along with the all-important snack break!
Freya’s First School Experiences
Freya stands tall, ready to tackle her day with pigtails bouncing. She’s learning routines—sitting with her friends, making art, and discovering the world around her. Morning hairdos and early rises are all part of her new journey, plus pushing around her very own baby buggy alongside her butterfly pals.
Carrying on the Traditions
Just like her mom, Hilary, Freya walks through the school gates, starting her preschool journey. Hilary, now a teacher herself, guides a group of kindergartners through weather updates, the alphabet, and valuable lessons on kindness. It’s a sweet cycle of knowledge and love that binds generations together.
The Realities of Teaching
Let’s be honest: we romanticize both farming and education. Both paths require hard work, day in and day out. We face the same struggles, whether it’s tackling daily cycles of growth or navigating the challenges of teaching at any level.
Balancing Work with Joy
The joy of watching crops flourish or seeing children thrive provides a thrill like no other. There’s pure happiness in witnessing a field of blooming potatoes or a child proudly sharing their newfound knowledge. Each step—whether on the farm or in the classroom—comes with its set of challenges. But the love and passion for growing something beautiful keeps us motivated.
Harvesting Takeaways
If we take a step back from the never-ending grind, we can see the bigger picture. It’s not just about the daily chores or the struggles. It’s about renewing our purpose, just like Hall’s farmer getting ready for the next year with fresh hope and dreams.
A Personal Connection
Yes, I resonate with the ox cart man heading to market. I carry my own crop of words and stories just for you, dear reader. Next year could yield even more possibilities! What if we explore sweet peas instead of dreary onions? Imagine the colors and smells! That’s the kind of growth I cherish—like enriching soil that nurtures not just our fields, but our hearts.
What’s in Your Cart?
For me, it’s all about collecting those life lessons and memories, whether in the classroom or the fields. As we head into this new season, think about what you want to put in your cart also. What seeds do you want to plant for a brighter tomorrow?
Embrace every moment, whether it’s in the classroom or life. It’s a cycle of growth, love, and learning that we all share. So, what’s filling up your cart this season? Let’s go forth and sow some magic together!