Poetry

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“No Soul Left Behind”

Teacher, teacher, I have been told,
By the Good Book from days of old,
Your gift was given to you by God,
Judged strictly by His measuring rod.
Someday, you will stand at His feet,
Giving account for each child you’ll meet.
Your students were fashioned by His hand,
Giving them the body He had planned.
Also, within, He put spirit and mind,
Providing teachers to unveil the blind.
Teacher, teacher, how I look up to you
Following all you say and do.
But what’s this anxiety I now feel?
Each day at school I become less real.
You’ve lost the wonder to pass on to me,
Now standardized scores is all you see.
For the sake of making scores rise,
You compete with others and call it wise.
Leaving behind godly character traits,
You teach to the test given by states.
For months we’re told we must do our best.
Can’t you see that our heads need a rest?
Step up the pace for your principal’s sake?
Think of the impression on her you’ll make.
If our scores raised three grade levels or more,
Will this be remembered as we close your door?
Too many facts so forcefully taught,
No time for wonders God has wrought.
Teacher, teacher will you please stop and see
What all this assessing is doing to me?
With just percents, don’t measure me by,
Using merely my mind to classify.
Teacher, teacher, will you be so kind
To see that “NO SOUL IS LEFT BEHIND?”


Janis Lord

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