DaveKemper.net

you were old school
simply because you had been
around for so long

and a teacher of social studies
an appropriately amorphous subject

     was it history, the study of cultures,
     a geography class, civics,
     or some new-age mishmash?
     in all probability you didn’t know
     or care

the students called you MGM
because you showed so many movies,
covering any and all subjects,
including one about the history of tea

what went on in your class
other than the movies
was a mystery to me

you complained one night
that your students couldn’t print well
as if that were a serious concern
we’re talking about 13-year-old kids
in the late 70s

parent-teacher conferences must have been
a trip because I doubt that you knew
all of your students’ names:
“Now . . . who’s your son? David Brubaker?
Okay, David. Let’s see . . . hmm . . .”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
you were our school’s Lear
old and out of it
and surely ready to retire
but for whatever reason
that didn’t happen

instead you showed up everyday
and, so it seemed,
pretty much did nothing everyday
and that would drive anyone mad

“Oh Captain! My Captain! Our fearful trip is done.”

that you were a principal
and not a classroom teacher
was a good thing

you in the classroom
would have been like
Mother Theresa in a brokerage firm
truly out of your element

good teaching requires vision, initiative,
wisdom, and passion–all of which
you were in short supply

as far as leadership goes . . .
well, let’s just say you hardly
seemed part of the school
seldom venturing too far from the office
rarely interacting with students or staff

I happened to be in the office
when you met with two boys
who allegedly had exposed themselves

the room became uncomfortably quiet
until you erupted with,
“I suppose you think you can pull your things out
because it’s Groundhog Day!”

nothing more really needs to be said

Exceptional ed teacher puts on her smile
As she bustles along another day.
Methods-class honed, she’s become versatile.

The faculty meeting takes quite awhile.
A tidy hall pass will start right away.
Exceptional ed teacher puts on her smile.

A sprint to her classroom, thinking what guile
Can get the kids to color maps her way.
Methods-class honed, she’s become versatile.

Homespun discipline is part of her style.
“We don’t need mouth muscles to work. Okay?”
Exceptional ed teacher puts on her smile.

Then time for testing a new boy named Lyle
To see if he scores at level 8A.
Methods-class honed, she’s become versatile.

1960 film presenting the Nile
Will continue through her last class, she prays.
Exceptional ed teacher puts on her smile.
Methods-class honed, she’s become versatile.