In this song Kenny is waxing nostalgic about his high school football days. After
all, he is from the south, and this is country music. I happen to like
football, but whatever your feelings toward the sport might be, if you listen
to the words, I think you’ll find he's saying there's more to it than just playing the game. “You mess with one man, you got us all” suggests that much of the thrill is about the camaraderie,
about being a team. And that thought brought me to reflect on another fall event:
the beginning of the school year.
Regardless
of what they admit to, I think most students look forward to the new school
year. It’s a time for new beginnings, new hopes, new adventures. But sadly, not
all students share this excitement. Some unfortunate souls approach this event
with a sense of dread.
I’m
no expert, but my experiences as a former teacher and as a parent suggest to me
that a child’s attitude toward school rests hugely on the opportunity to get involved
in something other than academics. Whether it’s a sports team, the drama club,
or the philatelist (look it up) society, being part of a group that shares
common goals and interests can have an enormous impact on success in school.
Humans are social animals. Even the shyest among us wants to feel that he belongs,
that he matters, that someone’s “got [his] back, when [his] back’s against the
wall.”
Granted, Kenny's song states that the football team doesn't "let just anybody in that club." It is a fact that certain groups require certain skills. But at
the school where I taught, myriad opportunities for involvement existed from Astronomy
Club to Young Republicans/Democrats, and everything in between. All a student needed in order to join was the interest and desire. If you have or
know of young people who are less than enthusiastic about starting school,
encourage them find an extracurricular activity. It might be difficult at
first, but if they work at it, I’m almost certain they can find a group that
interests them. The feeling of belonging can be a real game-changer.
(For
expert advice on the value of student involvement, visit Dr. Lisa Marotta's blog.)
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