Don't Be the Raisin House

As a kid, Halloween was unadulterated greed for me and my siblings.

Because there were 11 of us, my parents could not afford to have treats on hand during the year. We might get a pack of gum for our birthdays, or maybe half a popsicle if we weeded an entire row in the garden, but in general, treats were just not to be found. If a box of bridge mix (Mom’s favorite) or a bag of maple nut goodies (Dad’s) happened to make its way into our home, by the time it was rationed through the ten older siblings, I might be lucky to end up with a chocolate covered raisin. (Disgusting. To quote Stewie Griffen, “Yeah, that’s what kids want in their candy. Fruit.”)

So, Halloween was the annual opportunity to stock up on the good stuff. Snickers, Kit Kats, Reese’s Cups and peanut M&Ms were always tops on my list. Yes, the neighborhood had the sadistic houses that passed out Mounds or Almond Joys, circus peanuts, Necco wafers, boxes of raisins or bags of pennies. But for the most part, Halloween provided an opportunity to fill a pillow case with a cornucopia of nature’s treasures, and we took the opportunity very seriously.

Each year my siblings and I would develop a plan for the best path to take through the neighborhood, reviewing notes from the previous year about which houses gave what, which houses gave nothing, and which houses used the honor system, leaving a box of unattended candy on the porch with a naïve note begging, “please take one.”

We would always begin trick-or-treating 15 minutes before the official time, hitting first our immediate neighbors who knew better than to deny us our head start. Then we would make our way to the apartments, where hundreds of homes could be visited in about 45 minutes, before heading to the side streets. Those we conquered with a brilliant zig-zag pattern, cutting through yards to the next closest house with a porchlight on.

Our costumes were simple, containing nothing that would slow us down. No masks. No props. No oversized clothes. That meant that most often we were soccer players, or coal miners, or nerds (or Valley girls, if you were a sister). We would sprint the entire way, finishing as far from home as possible. When trick-or-treating was officially over, we then had a 20- to 30-minute walk home, where we would look for houses that still had their lights on. Often, this was the best time to trick-or-treat, as generous houses would dump all their remaining candy into our swollen pillow cases.  

We’d make our way home, dump the candy on the floor, and begin sorting and counting.

I got 23 Snickers!

I got 17 Kit Kats!

Who gave Zagnuts?

Turkish Taffy!

I’ll trade you 5 Tootsie Rolls for your wax lips.

What I remember about Halloween is that it was a magical night, one of my favorites of the year. It was planning and sprinting and lugging and sweating and anxiety. It was greed. And it was unbridled joy.

Adult me sometimes thinks about kid me. I think to myself, I probably would have been annoyed by a trick-or-treater like me. Trampling flowerbeds. Barely wearing a costume. Sprinting onto a porch, snatching a treat (or two or three), and springing off to the next place. Saying thanks but not really even looking at what was being given, all in the name of getting to the next house as soon as possible. (To paraphrase Kenny Rogers, there’ll be time enough for counting when the trick-or-treating is done.)

But I come to the same conclusion every year: Halloween is for the kids. Who cares if the costumes are uninspired? Who cares if the kids look a little too old to be trick-or-treating? Who cares if they sprint through my yard? Let’s not steal kids’ joy over a mangled chrysanthemum.

Be safe this year. Wear masks. Use tongs to pass out the candy, or wear gloves. And let kids be kids. Twenty years from now, today’s kids will tell their kids their trick-or-treating memories. If you have the means, pass out full-sized candy bars. And whatever you do, don't be the Raisin House.

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If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song

My first book, If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song is now available for purchase. What can a deejay teach us about the classroom? What does a superintendent do besides decide when to close school for snow? What makes someone a great teacher or a great principal? In this collection of essays, Dr. Joe Clark answers these questions by offering a model for compassionate, principled, and student-centered school leadership. In the process, If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song offers leaders a handbook for placing kindness, community, and diversity at the heart of successful education. Click here to find it on Amazon.

Look what people are saying about the book.....

The  raw vulnerability with impeccable humor  and a whole lot of honesty is exactly what Joe has served up for you! If you've ever made a mistake or think you will, then this is a must-read. The lens in which he spins (pun intended) this book is insightfully hilarious!

     -LaVonna Roth, Speaker, Author & Chief Illuminator of Ignite Your S.H.I.N.E.®

It's been said that we never know the struggles that someone is going through, so we should treat them kindly always. In If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song, Joe Clark embraces his own vulnerability to share how he reclaimed his story after a traumatic childhood, and shares how he used his life experiences, and his experiences as a DJ and camp director, to guide his work as a school leader. This book is an often humorous, sometimes melancholy look into what teaching and school leadership is all about. It's a tremendous read that I know you'll enjoy.

     -Thomas C. Murray, Author of Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime

If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song is a look into the world of leadership, education, and how to treat students. Dr. Clark writes to inspire teachers, principals and superintendents to reflect on the mission of being educators while being reminded to enjoy their work. This quick read will help you reflect and smile as Dr. Clark shares meaning and humor in everyday moments.

     -Todd Whittaker, one of the nation’s leading authorities on staff motivation, teacher leadership, and principal effectiveness. Todd has written over 50 books including the national bestseller, What Great Teachers Do Differently. 

A refreshing read for leaders or educators of all levels both! This is the type of read that can rejuvenate a veteran or give new teachers tools to keep their morale and inspiration at its peak. The lessons you learn from this book can carry over throughout the year, even when you don't know if you can. 

     -Amber Teamann, principal of Whitt Elementary in Wylie ISD in Wylie, Texas. Amber has  received numerous awards, including Regional Assistant Principal of the Year and a “Principal of the Year” engagement award. She recently was recognized as the Dallas Down Syndrome Educator of the Year for her work with inclusivity on her campus.

“If the Dance Floor is Empty, Change the Song” by Joe Clark, is a cleverly-written book that will not only make you think about how we approach our jobs as educators, but it will make you chuckle out loud. Filled with personal stories, practical examples, on-point illustrations, and golden nuggets of wisdom, this book will be hard for readers to put down.

     -Jimmy Casas, Educator, Author, Speaker, Leadership Coach

If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song is a book that will leave you smiling and laughing at times. It will also validate your thinking about education at times. More importantly, it will challenge you to re-think why we serve as educators and what is most important when discussing education and the purpose of schools. This book is filled with scores of reflections on teaching, learning, and leading that are applicable to educators in all roles, especially school leaders.

     -Jeffrey Zoul, Ed.D., Author, Speaker, Leadership Coach, and President of ConnectEDD

As a newly appointed principal, I found this book witty, insightful, and inspiring. The real life stories and anecdotes that Dr. Clark provide, are relatable to teachers, school managers, and, honestly, anyone in a position of leadership. If the Dance Floor Is Empty, Change the Song should be required reading for both new and seasoned school administrators alike. It should be part of every principal and teacher’s motivational toolkit. 

     -David Thomas, Principal, St. Gabriel’s Special School, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland

Great, another leadership book! That was my first thought when I was asked to read If the Dance Floor is Empty, Change the Song. Once I read the first few pages I was hooked, I truly wanted to dance. Finally, a leadership book with great advice and a vast amount of humor. Yes, school is serious business. But if you don’t laugh and enjoy the experiences then why even be a school leader. Dr. Joe Clark has created an informative quick read that gives you relatable and useful information. I truly did laugh out loud at graphics, pie charts and stories. If you can’t relate to this book, then you truly have never danced to a good song or sat back and enjoyed the experience of being a school leader.  

     -Jack Berckemeyer, nationally-recognized presenter, author, and humorist. Former Assistant Executive Director for the National Middle School Association. 

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