Okay, so here's a question: Why do they call it "back to school"? Have you ever thought about it? Sure, this ubiquitous phrase can be found in all the autumn-flavored advertising campaigns, reminding us that students can't get by without the newest clothes, backpacks, folders, and tech tools. Even the most cynical of us adults (and teachers) can't escape the desire to purchase a jarful of sharpened Number 2 pencils and a fresh notebook or two when August and September roll around.

In all seriousness, though, what does "back to school" really mean? Looking at word definitions is a place to start. "Back" generally gives the impression of a return after a period of absence. For example, we say, "I am back." "Return," according to dictionary.com, is defined as "to go or come back, as to a former place, position, or state." The second meaning of the word is "to revert or recur." Now one completely understands the logic of the phrase "back to school." After the summer months off, we "return" to school as teachers and students, but there's just something about the word "back" that just doesn't fit.

The word "back" makes you think of words such as "back up" or "backwards"-maybe even "back flip." It reflects a movement in a former direction. That's not what going to school should symbolize, advertising campaigns or not. We don't move back to school. Back means we haven't made progress. Back means we've moved in a previous direction. School should be about moving forward, not back. We should think of it as moving forward to achievement, forward to class, forward to projects and tests, forward to success, forward to the future. With respect to the movie goers, "Back to the Future" isn't really possible (sequentially, anyway).

Forward moves in a positive direction, generally. Defined as "toward a place, point, or in advance; onward, ahead" and "toward the front," forward gives no doubt about the direction being movement ahead, not back. Do we really want to return to our former selves, our former lessons, our former habits, or our former place in time that we left last May? Or are we ready for a new year that moves forward? Perhaps, instead of sighing to each other, "Are you ready for back to school?" we should make a fresh start and ask, "Are you ready to move forward to school?" Let's reverse our words (and perhaps even our thinking) and move ahead.

What direction is your Christian school headed this autumn? Are you reverting to former ideas or moving forward with the future?