American Slumber

American Slumber


The apparitions appearing to a slumbering conscious


upon seeing the light of the morning, of truth

          fade


         away


                                      These dreams move fast


my dreams


your dreams


our dreams


Dreams of things unimportant


digital dreams, on the web


on our phones that are smarter than we are


we move so fast in these dreams – but the reality


the reality


our souls sleep, unmoving


we sleep through the fire alarms of our burning houses


thinking the dreams are real until 


reality

             fades

                  away

Rant #1

Statewide testing for 10th and 11th grade was today.  Why?

Because like all other laws of the land, it was created because there were some really awful people doing something in a very awful way, and ruined it for the rest of us.

Without a doubt, there are some really bad teachers out there.  Kids can't read, they can't add.  I had a child ask me what continent Australia was on.  (If you don't know the answer to that, you are proving my point)  So I understand where the geniuses in Austin are coming from.  There has to be accountability somewhere, right?  Here is the problem:  When I was in high school (not THAT long ago), we had standardized tests.  The purpose of them was to see what we, the students, knew.  Today, the questions on these tests are worded purposefully to trip up the students.  The reason for that is because they are no longer trying to see what the students know, they are trying to see what they DON'T know.  That way, they can flush out teachers who aren't doing what they want.

This is so backwards.

So all the geniuses of education get together and come up with their "new" ideas of how students in this day and age need to be taught.  Meanwhile, the children are getting more dumb by the day.  Something isn't working.  The childhood education "experts" have got to be doing something wrong.

The other day, I saw a quote by one of these experts on Twitter.  He said that different students have reasons for not completing assignments, and that we must find out what those reasons are.

Seriously?

I don't know why they might choose to not do an assignment, but I sure can give a good reason why they should.  If they do not, they will fail my class.  How about that?  Or how about because if I give an assignment, it is disrespectful to me if they do not do it.  Ok, ok.  That was two reasons.  But let's be honest, there are always reasons to NOT be responsible.  But now we are supposed to get into the psyche of the child and figure out why?

This will save you some research, "expert."  THEY ARE CHILDREN!  That is all the reason you need.  Our job is to educate.  Their job is to resist.  They WANT to be held accountable.  My students LOVE me.  It isn't because I'm funny, and it is certainly not because my class is easy.  It is because they know that I care about them enough to MAKE them do what I know is best.  And so, with no gimmicks, and no hippie, touchy-feely tricks, I teach English.  And they learn.

Time to get back to basics.  Forget making them like you.  Make them work hard.

They will love you for it.

English Teacher's Poem

The following poem took a long time to write.  It includes references to several popular writers, all of whom I suggest you read.  Langston Hughes, George Orwell, Ray Bradbury (Fahrenheit 451), and the venerable Robert Frost (The Road Not Taken).

It was written on the heals of teaching Bradbury's classic, "Fahrenheit 451."  I strongly recommend reading that book.  If you do, you will realize that you need to read everything you can, before they come and burn our books... sooner than you think.

Going, Going, Gone

Why are people ok with ok?

Mediocrity is the new excellence.

Extraordinary was tossed into a dumpster

like an unwanted baby

wrapped in a dirty blanket.

forgotten

left for dead

I dreamed once that someone stood

for something.

That someone younger than I

finally had enough of

the meaningless and mundane.

began to seek beauty

truth

What a dream to wake from

Sorry Robert.

We chose the wrong road.

The worn-down path of the downtrodden

and worthless

for the sake of entertainment.

Sorry George.

We stopped writing well.

Now they think for us –

Hollywood and the corporations

the government –

(of the people and for the people?

I am beginning to think not)

Sorry Langston.

We had to find a different dream to defer

A dream of excellence and free-thinking

shriveling like a raisin

sagging like a heavy load

Sorry Mr. Bradbury.

We took the shot from the weapon

And once this explodes

I fear there will be no one to quote Milton

or Ecclesiastes this time.

Looking for You

Looking for You




I think I’ll hit the road
 I could drive to Mexico
in a rusted-out Buick
with a dog hanging his head 
out the window
Or maybe Canada
I might see a moose
or a bear
It does not really matter where I might go
if the road leads to you

Belief

In the spirit of honesty, this poem comes from a time in my life when I was struggling.  Yeah, it happens.  I have learned that God is ok with doubts.  He is big enough to handle our mess.  So don't judge me, we all have those seasons of trial.  And by the way, I eventually heard.




Belief


I wanted to believe in people
until I met a few.
I believed in love once
until she lied to me.
I believed in friendship once
until I was betrayed.
I believed in family once
until loved ones began to die.
I believed in religion once
but I could not stomach the fake.


All that is left to believe in is God.
I lifted my head and asked the sky, “do you hear me?”
I am still waiting for an answer…

Among the Trees

This poem was written after teaching a lesson about being a tighter community of believers.  I was inspired by the idea of us Outsiders being so tightly knit together that our Message would be CAUGHT rather than just TAUGHT.  We join to become one... like the forest.


Among the Trees


One tree does not make a forest.
Many join to form the one
With leafy hands stretched toward the sun
From the richest to the poorest.


At distance they all seem the same
Together sway, together bend
In sync with the rising wind.
Though one, each remembers his name.


One morning here I saw the Truth
While deep inside this living church
Of maple, pine, oak, and birch.
The Savior lives, and here is proof.


We found our Destiny, Hope, and Peace
Planted together, stalwart and strong, 
Hands raised high, singing His song,
Here among the other trees.