Dear professors,

The first day of class is not for teaching.

Rather, the first day of class should be viewed as a movie trailer , not an opportunity to run the class’s opening credits.

We want razzle dazzle — we want to be teased, even seduced, by promises of riveting lectures, light readings and take-home exams. The first day of class — the preview class — should be as exciting (and short) as is academically possible.

Let’s be clear : Pedantic first-day lectures are red flags to drop the class before we’ve invested much potential sleep time.

For the professor who spent yesterday teaching, it is probably too late: look for dramatic drop off in attendance at your next lectures. But professors who have yet to launch into class should best heed our advice: You need to make a good first impression to solidify attendance, let alone interest. Let’s see some Hollywood-type first days. A stylish beginning with props, music and a young-attractive celebrity would start the semester off the right way.