Poetry

OH, FOR THOSE GOOD OLD SCHOOL DAYS

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
04/02/18
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What has happened to that good old school day
When we children could safely go to recess and play
When chewing gum in school was the only wrong
When our national anthem was always the main song
When our country's flag would wave so brave and true
When pledging allegiance was the first thing to do
When the pledge was spoken with hand on our heart
When from one nation under God we would never part
When the old ball game always started in a nice prayer
When we ask that the players be safe and all play fair
When we could ride our bikes to school without harm
When our parents would not have need for any alarm
When on that big black board we would note our ABC's
When today's electronic devices were nowhere to please
When we would walk to lunch all forming a straight line
When going to the chapel service none were left behind 
When the class just knew not to ever talk out of turn
When polite manners were always the class's concern
When the classroom took time out to bow and pray
When the Bible textbook would show us all the way
When we were taught that good old golden rule
When it took place in practice, all over the school
What has happened to that good old school day,
When we would all pledged to grasp the Bible way?

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."(Matthew 7:12)

Seems like crime has ramped up in our public schools more than ever before.

So what has happened to those good old school days of yesteryear? One need only surf the Internet to find the answer in a mire of different opinions, most of which seem to border on today's self-help psychology.  So please allow me to add my opinion to the mix.  History has proven that anytime the providential care of our Creator is removed or disallowed in a society, that society tends to progress into immorality.

The  Supreme Court of the United State rendered three major decisions in 1962 and 1963 which directly affected the public school system; those being the removal of prayer and the Bible from public schools. These three decisions alone have apparently been the most significant spiritual events in modern history of education, I would surmise.

According to one anonymous teacher, the standard disciplinary problems of the past, such as talking, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls, and getting out of turn in line, have now progressively evolved into a quagmire of criminal charges such as rape, theft, assaults and even murder.

So what's the answer? Simply put God back in our class rooms. (Philippians 4:8)

You may or may not remember this old song "School Days" written by Will Cobb and Gus Edwards, in 1907. The theme of this song was based on a mature couple looking back sentimentally on their childhood together in primary school.

The best known part of the song is its chorus:

School days, school days
Dear old Golden Rule days
Reading and writing and rithmetic
Taught to the tune of the hick'ry stick
You were my queen in calico
I was your bashful, barefoot beau
And you wrote on my slate, "I Love You,
When we were a couple o' kids

Wow, being taught to the tune of a "hickory stick". Oh well, maybe it's just a rhyming lyric. However, times have surely changed within our school systems, wouldn't you agree?  We must all pray every day for our school children and grandchildren. 

Author's Postscript

Please allow me to date myself. Growing up in public school over a half century ago,  I was fortunate to have participated in regular accredited Bible studies in high school. The Old Testament studies were identified as "Bible I", and the New Testament studies were identified as "Bible II." These classes even required opening devotions and a prayer time,  which were graded as part of our studies.

 Oh, to only bring back those "good ole days" as our poem describes. Amen!

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