School Days

The song is School Days from The Dancing Weasel.

Kids Who Are Different

by Digby Wolfe

Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids who don't always get A's,
The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,
And noses that go on for days...

Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids they call crazy or dumb,
The kids who don't fit, with the guts and the grit,
Who dance to a different drum...

Here's to the kids who are different,
The kids with the mischievous streak,
For when they have grown, as history's shown,
It's their difference that makes them unique.

I came across this little poem somewhere in my journeys on the web,
and it reminded me of one of the first things that we, as prospective
teachers, were taught in an education class - There is no such thing
as a problem child. They are children with problems. I believe that
teachers need to take time to really know their students and the parents,
and to recognize what problems the students may have.

When I was a kid, the greatest worry we had in school was trying not
to get caught passing a note to a friend, whispering, or shooting
spitballs. If we got into any trouble at school, our parents were
notified and we were in double trouble when we got home.

Kids today have so much peer pressure to do drugs, to drink, to
smoke and to have their own car. In some cases students have after
school jobs to save for college and to operate the cars. WE
were allowed to work only summer jobs or during Christmas holidays.
With the divorce rate so much higher now, many kids may also have
some serious problems because of the less than friendly split up of
their parents. Today with the violence that has occured in so many
schools recently, students have to worry if they will even leave
the school alive.

Daddy's Day

Her hair up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school and she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her that she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates on this Daddy's Day.
But still her mother worried for her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back for everyone to meet.
Children squirmimg impatiently, anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called a student from the class,
To introduce their daddy as seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare.
Each of them were searching for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?" she heard a boy call out.
"She probably doesn't have one," another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say.
"Looks like another deadbeat dad too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, as she smiled at her friends,
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin.
And with her hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be with me on this day.
And though you can not meet him, I wanted you to know
All about my daddy and how he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories; he taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes and ice cream in a cone.
And though you can not see him, I'm not standing all alone

'Cause my daddy's always with me even though we are apart.
I know because he told me, he'll forever be here in my heart.
With that, her little hand reached up and lay across her chest,
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears,
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years,
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her life,
Doing what was best for her, doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd,
She finished with a voice so soft but its message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much; he's my shining star.
And if he could he'd be here but heaven's just too far.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he never went away."
And then she closed her eyes and saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side.
"I know you're with me,Daddy" to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there placed on her desktop, was a beautiful fragnant pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only a moment by the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing that heaven is never too far.

by Cheryl Costello-Forshey
copyright 2000
To request permission to use this poem on your web page
please email the author, Cheryl Costello-Forshey.Email Cheryl

A Mother's Back To School Prayer

by Elizabeth Stevens
Protect my little ones I pray
For I send them back to school today.
Keep them healthy, help them learn.
Make them proud of the grades they earn.
Dear Lord, stay with them through the day,
Because You see they cannot pray.
The government has interfered.
From the schools You've disappeared.
In your place instead there is violence, sex, and drugs.
Turning kids into brainless slugs.
I hate to send them back to school.
I feel like a helpless fool.
At home I teach them wrong from right.
Then at school they have to fight,
To try and do what they know they should.
I know I can trust them to be good.
There are others with whom they play.
They try to lead my kids astray.
They cannot turn to You themselves.
The rules were made by someone else.
I love my kids like a mother should.
I just wish I understood,
Why they go to school each day,
To read and learn and even play.
Yet they face such dreadful things,
Like sex and drugs and guns and gangs!
Amen

A TEACHER'S PRAYER

God grant me wisdom, creativity, and love.
With wisdom, I may look to the future and see the effect that
my teaching will have on these children, and thus adapt my methods
to fit the needs of each one.
With creativity, I can prepare new and interesting projects that
can challenge my students and expand their minds to set higher goals
and dream loftier dreams.
With love, I can praise my students for jobs well done and
encourage them to get up and go on when they fail.
Lord, reveal Yourself to them through me.
Amen

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