September

September marks the beginning of the academic year in many countries, in which children go back to school after the summer break, sometimes on the first day of the month. Stating the obvious, almost no child is excited for September.

The Education Act of 1899 made school compulsory for all children. This caused a public expression of outrage especially for working class families who needed their children to work on the farm. A long holiday in the summer months meant that children could work on the fields and return back to school in September.

Religious squabbling continued in the elections for School Boards and in the attempts, particularly by Anglicans in county areas, to forestall the imposition of the School Boards. Initially the advantage lay with the existing voluntary schools and even by 1880 only one sixth of children were in board schools but the potential for growth lay with School Boards and by 1900, 54% of the elementary school population were in their schools.

Many of the larger boroughs imposed bye-laws making education compulsory, that in turn increased revenue, since grants were still related to attendance, and it was partly as a means of helping the rural voluntary schools that Disraeli’s ministry turned its attention to compulsion.[1]

For these schools, Lord Sandon the Vice-President, told the Cabinet in 1875 it was a matter of ‘life or death’. The result, in 1876, was Sandon’s Education Act that set up School Attendance Committees and placed the responsibility for ensuring attendance firmly on parents. It also gave voluntary schools the right to make attendance compulsory.

Various loopholes were removed by the incoming Liberal ministry when Mundella’s Education Act 1880 made attendance compulsory for children between five and ten. By the early 1890s, attendance within this age group was falling short at 82%. Many children worked outside school hours: in 1901 the figure was put at 300,000 and truancy was a major problem due to the fact that parents could not afford to give up income earned by their children.

Compulsory education was also extended to blind and deaf children under the Elementary Education (Blind and Deaf Children) Act of 1893, which established special schools. Similar provision was made for physically-impaired children in the Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act of 1899. Further legislation in 1893 extended the age of compulsory attendance to 11, and in 1899 to 12.[2]

September Nights

September (from Latin septem, “seven”) was originally the seventh of ten months on the oldest known Roman calendar, with March (Latin Martius) the first month of the year until perhaps as late as 153 BC.  After the calendar reform that added January and  February to the beginning of the year, September became the ninth month but retained its name. It had 29 days until the Julian reform, which added a day.

The September equinox takes place in this month, and certain observances are organized around it. It is the Autumn equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere. The dates can vary from 21 September to 24 September.

Meteor showers that occur in September include the Aurigids, the Delta Aurigids which occur from mid-September to early October, the Southern Taurids, which occur from September 10 to November 20, and the Andromedids which occur from September 25 – December 25. [3].

The Delta Aurigids meteor shower takes place within the boundaries constellation of Auriga. The meteor shower occurs between Sep 18 – Oct 10 with the peak occuring on the Sep 29 every year.

Delta Aurigids are a minor annual Meteor Shower. The source of the meteors is unknown and it has a low rate of hits which could imply that the source is a long period comet and therefore it’s not been here for some time as the meteors debris is getting fewer and fewer.

September Equinox

The September equinox (or Southward equinox) is the moment when the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading southward. Due to differences between the calendar year and the tropical year, the September equinox can occur at any time from the 21st to the 24th day of September.

At the equinox, at the equator, the Sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west. Before the Southward equinox, the Sun rises and sets more to the north, and afterward, it rises and sets more to the south.

The equinox may be taken to mark the end of summer and the beginning of autumn (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere while marking the end of winter and the start of spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere. [4].

September Important Days

Some of the most important days in September:

• September  7:  World Forgiveness Day
• September  8:  World Literacy Day
• September 10: World Anti-Suicide Day
• September 21: World Peace Day, International Day for Peace and Non-violence (UN), World Alzheimer’s Day
• September 27: World Tourism Day
• September 29: World Heart Day

Read more details for important days in September here>>

Why I love September

For starters, I like the smell of rain during September. I adore the way nature is changing colors and how leaves are creating a magnificent carpet of various green and yellow tones. How not to mention that the sea is warmer and less crowded. Next to that, my favorite cupcakes taste much better when are a bit hot.

The weather gradually gets cooler, and that creates the best atmosphere to read more books while listening to music. I have to confess that I prefer traveling to faraway destinations in September. Better prices and more free spaces in airplanes makes life brighter! Even outfits and fashion choices are less crazy in September. And here is one of my favorite songs about September: Barry White – September When I First Met You.

September in Greece

Holidays in September mean that you can find the best prices for amazing properties with stunning views, high-end facilities, and incredible design. Discover the best destinations to visit, the most beautiful beaches to swim and the most fascinating things to do, during your September holidays in Greece. Have a look here:  www.septemberingreece.com

There are plenty of reasons to love September. Tell us yours!

• [1]. Ibid, Jackson, Patrick, Education Act Forster: a political biography of W.E. Forster (1818-1886), pp. 181-206 considers the implementation of the legislation through to 1874.
• [2]. See, Roper, H., Administering the Elementary Education Acts, 1870-1885, (Museum of the History of Education, University of Leeds), 1976.
• [3]. September in Wikipedia
• [4]. September equinox in Wikipedia
• Cover photo credits: Photo by Matthew Henry from Burst
• “September walk in the woods” photo credits: Photo by Samantha Hurley from Burst
• “September Nights” photo credits: Photo by Brodie Vissers from Burst