Resist the Allure of A New Beginning

The academic year’s ‘clean slate’ is actually a little dangerous.

All illustrations by the author.

The beginning of the school year is seductive. You might not be a teacher, or a student, or a parent of a student, but I’m sure you can feel the energy: Everyone gets new, sharp, unchewed-on pencils! Fresh backpacks! Blank day planners! And with all this stuff comes the promise of a blank…