The start of the school year can evoke a lot of emotions, so sometimes a little pep talk is a must. Whether your kids are back in school or you’re a teacher starting a new year, these quotes about school, learning, and the value of education will whet your appetite for knowledge as you head into the new school year.
1. “A child, a teacher, a pen and a book can change the world.” -Malala Yousafzai
Everyone has that teacher, or, if they’re lucky, a few teachers, who helped unlock their potential and changed the way they see the world. Magical!
2. “Education is the key to unlock the world, a passport to freedom.” – Oprah Winfrey
No matter where you come from or what your situation is, education, in any form, can completely change your world and broaden your horizons.
3. “You have to go to college. You have to get your degree. Because that’s the only thing people can’t take away from you is your education. And it is worth the investment.” -Michelle Obama
Do you have a child who isn’t excited about the first day of school? (Or the many school days that follow?) Try to remind them that as “boring” as it may seem now, it will be worth it in the end. It is something they will have forever.
4. “Children should be taught how to think, not what to think.” -Margaret Mead
The best teachers strive to teach children how to figure out the answers, not just how to memorize them.
5. “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” – Taylor Swift
There is always the opportunity to start over, especially at the beginning of the school year.
6. “I don’t go to school just for academics. I wanted to share ideas, to be surrounded by people who are passionate about learning.” -Emma Watson
Even for kids who don’t love the “learning” part of school, it’s important to remember that school is about so much more than homework, tests, and teachers. It is also about the people they interact with and the relationships they form.
7. “Work hard, take a power nap.” – Demi lovato
As far as funny quotes about school go, this one is Demi lovato it’s pretty hard to beat. Whether he was taking a break from schoolwork or songwriting, one thing is hard to argue: a well-rested student is a happier student.
8. “When we empower girls hungry for education, we cultivate women who are encouraged to effect change within their communities and globally.” —Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex
When a girl thirsts for knowledge, embrace it. She will continue to do great things for the world.
9. “Everything I have learned, I learned from books.” ― Abraham Lincoln
When we teach children a love of books and reading, we give them a great gift.
10. “I loved school so much that most of my classmates considered me an idiot.” —Natalie Portman
Never let another person’s opinion of the school affect your opinion of the school. That you like school is great!
Take it from the super-successful, Harvard-educated Natalie Portman.
11. “Don’t try so hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different… just try to be you.” —Zendaya
This is the perfect back-to-school reminder to help kids deal with peer pressure: trying to be something you’re not is never easy or fun. And it makes school that much more exhausting!
12. “At school, no one thought I was smart, and I got smart. Nobody wanted to be my friend, and then I had a lot of friends. — Rebel Wilson
If things are tough at school, keep in mind that things can, and often do, change on a dime. One day you may not enjoy a subject or a classmate, and the next, poof! You do!
13. “Be curious, not cool.” —Ken Burns
When documentary filmmaker Ken Burns gave the commencement address to Stanford’s graduating class of 2016, it was those four words that resonated the most. If you’re more concerned with trying to appear a certain way to people, you’ll be exhausted. If you ask questions, in and out of the classroom, you’ll be smarter.
14. “A good education is the foundation for a better future.” —Elizabeth Warren
Although it can be difficult when you’re at it, a good education is never a waste of time.
15. “In a global economy, where the most valuable skill you can sell is your knowledge, a good education is no longer just a path to opportunity, it’s a prerequisite.” -Barack Obama
If you’re not a huge fan of the school right now, that’s fine. But you have to stick with it, finally find something you like and go after it. Because the lessons you learn at school, inside and outside of the classroom, will pave the way like no other.
16. “What used to be perceived as nerdy is now seen as original. What I like about being a nerd, geek, is that it doesn’t really matter what you like. It just means you’re not a follower.” —Kristen Bell
Sometimes it can be hard not to desperately want to fit in at school. But ultimately, the truest and best thing you can do for yourself is to foster your own tastes and interests. Because, as we all know, the school is finite.
17. “If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you have a boss.” -Bill Gates
Sure, teachers can be tough, but guess what? So are the bosses!
18. “Belonging begins with self-acceptance… Believing that you are enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect.” —Brene Brown
Again, wanting to fit in at school and with friends is natural, but to truly belong, which is different from just “fitting in,” you have to love and be true to yourself.