Teacher's Lesson

I performed the most splendid feat today,

You would have hardly believed it.

I gave the glum teens all I had in me,

No one else could’ve possibly achieved it.

With trust that I could engage the doubting tribe,

staff gave me standards and said, “go”

Could I lead the sheep to a trough of knowledge?

My wisdom I was prepared to bestow!

The class bell noted the time was at hand,

“Put the phones and the earbuds away, tikes,”

The addicts complied while twitching in fear,

That they may miss their next Insta like.

“Fire up the computer, put your brains on “play,”

This digital lesson is FIRE!”

Please, Miss, don’t use those words, they said,

Your effort is mid, if not dire.“

Here’s why it matters,” I pleaded too much,

“That you learn and attention do pay!”

I busted a rhyme and yodeled a tune,

“No,” they said, “but props anyway.”

“Stay with me!” I said, “there’s not too much more,

and what’s next is really important!

”I made up a game with buzzers and cards.

But they balked at the way teams were sorted.

I asked probing questions, asked them to take sides,

“Opinions are welcome here!”

But all they could muster was a predictable sigh,

And remind me the class end is near.

One more try, I was not giving up,

This standard was the most vital yet,

I set stations and timers and they walked all around,

(Could someone please see this for VSET?)

“What can I do, dear teens, to get you to attend,

To the information I’m trying to teach?

Here’s a snack, have some candy, need a restroom break?

Why the heck are you so hard to reach?”

I could dress myself in a neon headdress,

I could beg and plead my soul bare,

But there’s nothing a teacher can do in a classroom,

To reach students who just. don’t. care.