Your Poetry Dot Com - DON'T YOU DARE!!

Have you ever wished that God had given you more than two arms
So you could hug each of the screaming infants during a storm…
when the lightning and thunder get too much to bear?
Have you ever wanted to go home with some of the children you teach
Just so you could tuck them in at night
because their own parents aren’t there or are just too busy to do it.

Have you ever had to give up your lunch
Just so that Joey would not go hungry that day?
Have you spent your own earnings
so that Billy and Jane may attend an event that they couldn’t afford,
but one which you knew they’d enjoy or from which they would benefit?

Have you ever felt afraid when Ricky’s mother stormed into the school
and accused you of grabbing him by the collar
And cutting him on the neck with your fingernails…
Then you breathe a sigh of relief when he admitted that he was ‘playing’ with Tony
and was struck and cut with a pair of scissors..

Have you ever cried inside after seeing little Suzy come to school
all black and blue?
Knowing there’s nothing you can do.
Or when Cindy told you that her dad touches her ‘there’
And her mummy accuses her of telling lies…

Haven’t you ever felt like kicking butt
When Tommy and Joe say their uncle abuses them,
And the worst feeling is knowing that these kids
Will be the next generation of abusers…
Yet you know that you yourself will be abused
By the parents if you intervene.

If by now you aren’t convinced, I guess you never will.

But don’t you DARE sit there and tell me
that a Teacher’s job is no more stressful than another person’s job.
Don’t you dare tell me that we took on a job for which we were not equipped.
Don’t you dare tell me that we don’t need better conditions or more compensation.
Don’t you dare….
Not until you have spent ONE day in my shoes!!

29.05.04

I was reminded of this older post after an incident at school today...This was written 4 years ago when my sister told me that my job is no more stressful than anyone else's... Today, while I was in charge, all the children came scampering to their classes and locking themselves in when a group of kids who were practising marching for our sports next week, (under the supervision of 2 teachers and a soldier) were accosted by a man who was in too much of a hurry to slow down so the kids would clear the road. He threatened them by saying he's gonna get a gun and come back and shoot up the school... Just this morning, 2 people were killed in the area, making it 5 murders for the week..so the kids were really scared.)

This poem is Copyright ยฉ Jenni_K