A couple of songs for this week. The first is a Rod Stewart song, Forever Young. It really speaks to how I view students. They will always be 17 in my classroom. No matter what they do I will always be there for them.…

Last week was about lost youth but I think this week is the best description for students leaving us at the end of high school. It speaks about a loss of innocence and facing adulthood. Fore those of you who think it has drug references are wrong.…

I am going to have to double up on some songs since I have so many. I have always loved folk music and so I have a couple that talks about the passing of time and youth. They are beautiful songs but mourn the loss of youth and I loved them when I was young but not I understand them.…

This is the second Billy Joel song. I heard him describe this song and he was adamant that it was not a political song but just a history of what has happened in his lifetime up until then. I also am amazed at the history I have witnessed and love to share it with my students.…

A sad look at nostalgia from Bruce Springsteen. I don’t visit Lakewood much but it has changed so much that I wouldn’t recognize it. It does remind me of something I said as we were planning the 30-year high school reunion.…

I have been a Billy Joel fan and this is a look back at high school for both of us.

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This one is done on spring break but I have so many I can’t afford to miss a week. I have been lucky in my classes to have students that have gone on to do great things. Many will not be celebrities but they will be famous in their world.…

This is a beautiful love song but because he is the professor, it is wildly inappropriate.

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This is one of my favorites. Charlie Brown by the Coasters. This was my life in school.

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1984 saw the release date of the movie Teachers. If you haven’t seen it, I relate well to the character played by Richard Mulligan.

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This song doesn’t talk about school specifically but does talk about the joy of September when school started. It also speaks to aging and I know that in the December of my career I am enjoying the return to earlier times.…

A little advice from James Brown in 1967.

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Sexy 17 by the Stray Cats.

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My last “bad” song. This is always a fear in schools. Many people really don’t know what the song is about until they see the video. Sting (Who was an English teacher) and the Police.

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Another fun school song and many of us had this experience in school. Van Halen at it’s best.

“I don’t feel tardy!”

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I am now going to do some songs that are not the most wholesome. These are some fun songs but not the best influences but most of us have heard these and enjoy them. The first is a J. Geils Band song.…

As a technology and computer science teacher, this song fits, and if you really listen some of the things have already come to pass. The added bonus is the old movie Metropolis.

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We seem to hear this from kids daily. The funny thing is that I can say the same about my time in high school.

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This is from the movie Fame. If you haven’t seen it please take the time to find it. This song is very emotional for me because this is what I hope every student believes as they leave us and start building their tomorrow.…

Here is what we try to do as teachers. Take students to heights where they can see all of the possibilities. My favorite line is about chasing their dreams across the star.…

I imagine this song with my teaching. As I envision retiring I can imagine a teacher version of this song.

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Some good old Folk music. It is a part of my war protest music and is a very fun song with a serious message. It sometimes gets lost on people who don’t understand satire but I hope you enjoy it.…

Some Sam Cooke to go way back. It was all about love!

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Rock and Roll High School by the Ramones

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With the advent of vaping we are back to this mess. A little old school from Brownsville Station. I like the Motley Crue version but let’s go the the original!

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A little upbeat Chuck Berry as we get into the rhythm of school for this year.

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This one is special for Homecoming Week. Once a Raider, Always a Raider!

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This is a message I wish I could get across to all students. It does speak about teachers and school at the beginning but the full message is in the chorus.

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