When I Become a Teacher

When I become a teacher I'll put a map of the world on every wall in my classroom My students will always know to have a universal mindset When they hear freedom, they'll think of more than spirituals and Emancipation They'll remember the stinking pits at Babi Yar The curled steel at Auschwitz Sarajevo’s rifle butts Cambodia’s grit and sweat and death These classroom walls will not fence their minds. Eyes will be opened. Again. Instead of asking my students to adjust to my teaching style Fawn in silent awe over my genius I'll ask them how they learn Then tend to the visual Auditory and tactile learners the best way I can They’ll never doubt their place in my plan, Confuse our classroom for a cookie-cutter Stage where they must sit on their hands. I’ll take criticism. Gather it like gold dust between my fingers. Never satisfied, I’ll Practice my practice forever. My classroom will be painted bright blues and yellows Along with students drawings, murals and poetry Displays of Me Magazines And word walls Scenes from books acted out Role playing and Mock trials I will appreciate their creativity I will teach my students inquiry Ask them questions about the world around them Their opinions on issues from health care to the Palestine Wall I won't talk at them, but with them We'll have discussions and debates I will challenge them Ask them how they would tackle issues like budgets cuts Low reading levels And school safety I'll ask them how they feel about Pennsylvania finding money to build 3 more prisons but cutting funding from schools Or how they feel about districts paying millions for standardized test and curriculum but not having enough for extra curricular activities They will be informed My students will be poets storytellers actors artists analyst activists All while being beautiful Everyday I will tell them they're beautiful