Bored of Education

Dear Bored of Education

So are we huh so are we

At no point in the lives that we actually live

Do we sit in rows and listen to pontifications

At no point did momma pass written exams out on how to wash the dishes no

She pulled the stool up next to her at the sink

Handed us a dishrag like 'Watch how mommy does it now you try'

Learning by doing such a crazy idea it might work

Them stools felt like a magical ladders into an alter universe

Into the grown-up world

Informational portholes wormholes into other places

Where kids were equals

Being made privy to information only those with

Driver's licenses and facial hair had

Who knew we were learning

No clue Pops was teaching us time management and budgeting

Miniature project coordinators

He said"I'mma show you how to do these chores.

And if they're done when I get home

Then that allowance is yours.

Maybe some ice cream's involved too.

Remember when we were in kindergarten

And you had to learn about worms

Yeah you went outside and you played with worms

What a novel idea

Dear Bored of Education

Huh so are we

So are we

Dear Bored of Education

All I've learned from your system is that it's just the system

That you set up

And if I just repeat what you just said

In James Schafer method then I passed right

You're just testing my ability to regurgitate

And if your best instructors are miserable

I'm pretty sure it's not the kids' fault

This pain I know firsthand

The grand learning moments the innovative lesson plans

That causes eyes to sparkle

As if them students have just caught rides on shooting stars

These lessons have wings only to get clipped to fit

Into the Low-Res JPEG you call"The State Standards."

Why do you insist this is still the industrial age

My child is not a widget

And a school should not be an assembly line

Making my daughter's diploma equivalent to an inspected by 2235 stamp

Dear Bored of Education so are we

Dear Bored of Education

There's not a Scranton on the planet that can measure inspiration

This is what our teachers pass on that matters

But you'd rather them do a jig to the tune of an AYP score

As to avoid losing right

Nickel bee got us shocking and jiving

But you can't measure a kid inviting their teacher to a Quincenera or a soccer game

Or waiting rooms at free clinics.

I can name ten kids off hand who would still be in handcuffs if it wasn't for Mr. Singer

Nick Luvanno runs his own design firm

And he failed the exit exams twice Failed

Dear Board of Education I mean can we not Google when the Magna Carta was signed

If your brightest stars are always dim

Something must be wrong with your glasses

If every place on your body that you touch hurts

Then your fingers must be broken

You are PhDs you have five suffixes at the end of your names

You're the people that know

A lot how come you're not smart enough

To know that you don't know what you don't know

Did anyone ever suggest that maybe we should test the test

Dear Bored of Education my dear Bored of Education so are we

So are we so are we