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School Days

Sep 3

Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day

Today's Musings, History & Folklore

"🎶 Dance days, dance days,
Dear old Highland steps ways,
Jigs and reels and strathspeys fine,
Taught to the tune of a fiddle line.
You were my lass in tartan bright,
I was your lad with steps so light,
And we danced at the ceilidh in pale moonlight,
When we were a couple of kids."

~ Sung to the tune of "School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)", 1907

Whether you're fresh out of an RSCDS summer school )or restarting dance classes, or hustling the young ones into their new school schedule this autumn, this 32 bar reel will help review essential figures and get you back to excellent dancing form with a classic cross and cast, teapots, reels, and an ending circle! Polish up those ghillies and scrape the bottom of those shoes for extra traction! It's time to dance and welcome newcomers! 🍎 🎻 🕺 💃

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In the northern hemisphere, school terms typically start in August or September due to historical, agricultural, and practical reasons. Historically, the academic calendar in many regions, particularly in the United States and Europe, was designed around the agricultural calendar. In the 19th century, when agriculture was a dominant part of life, children were often needed to help with planting and harvesting crops during the spring and summer months. As a result, schools would break for summer, allowing children to assist with farming duties. This tradition persisted even as societies industrialized and the reliance on child labor in agriculture diminished.


Another practical reason for starting the school year in late summer or early fall is the weather. In many parts of the world, the cooler months of autumn are more conducive to focusing on studies than the hot, sometimes oppressive, summer months. Additionally, starting the school year in September aligns with the fiscal calendar for many educational institutions, allowing for better budgeting and planning for the year ahead. Over time, this schedule has become the norm, with the start of the school year in August or September being widely accepted as the most efficient and practical way to structure the academic calendar.


If your school days are behind you, there's always Scottish Country Dance school opportunities.


Click the RSCDS main site for information on the upcoming Winter School.



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Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!

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