Pauline

Oh teacher, how little you really know. 

We aren't just being lazy, 

Or stupid,

Or mean, 

The statements you make like the one below: 

"I'm tired of students not caring" 

they hurt. 

Some of us try,

Some of us learn, 

Some of us even care. 

Those generalizations hinder our growth

Your characterizations limit our chances

I only ask for a chance to speak

A chance to explain

and a chance to repeat. 

Like you we have lives

we have struggles and strife

Homework is our folly

and tests our judgement day.

If asked,

"What would you change...

in your school...

if you could?" 

I'd say teachers listen

Don't judge.

bend the rules. 

Missing assignments are bad all in all

but reprimanding won't pick us up from a fall

Don't cluster all students as I am going to do to you

All teachers group us as intellectual few.

Help us learn in a more flattering way

Cause learning should come 

Instead of filtering away.