Ode to Happy School Teacher

“Good morning, children. Smile, let’s get your thinking hats on.”

Today we’ll spell, read, answer questions, take turns, write,

Learn to multiply and divide equal groups to solve problems;

Talk how native cultures adapted their food, tools and environment;

Diagram the water cycle from ocean vapour to mountain condensation.

Some time, let’s sing, let’s draw, full speed exercise in gym and schoolyard.

Years before every classroom morning, a teacher has mastered

Curriculum standards, lesson plans, performance goals,

Track improvements, resolve conflicts, balance expectations,

Personal records, parents involvement, life-long memories.

Now enter the personalized I-PAD greeting … “Good morning,” to what

Environment that nurtures consecutive learning and critical thinking;

Missing is the raised hand of many, the heart beat of a classroom,

The drumbeat of democracy of compromising cohesiveness and respect.

Annemarie Berukoff