By The Fire... (Part Three)
when we stop using schools for refrigerators,
a place to put children till they're grown...
and infuse our schools with open minded passion,
and the unrestrained hunger to learn...
when each child is given equal opportunity,
is presented all sides of issues,
and given the freedom to choose....
when we stand behind our teachers
with both respect and awe....
only then, will education be both real and just!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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The Negro Schools
Please be silent now, my country, while I fill the speaker's place;
While I point out some abuses that we constantly embrace,
Listen with your best attention to the words that I shall say,
How the Negro schools are managed, in this Commonwealth today.
All the officers are white men and together they conspire,
To undo the schools for Negroes, of such deeds they never tire;
Oft we find among the trustees men who cannot read a word,
But when speaking of the Negro, they are certain to be heard.
Education for the Negro they discourage, and they say,
'It will bring dissatisfaction to such people ev'ry day,
Make them crave for something higher, such as white men should enjoy,
Which will spoil the other Negroes that we have in our employ.'
Shorter terms are recommended many times as low as two
Are the months to Negroes given, in a year—now this is true,
Longer terms the whites are given in the same communities—
They conform to such a standard of the right with perfect ease.
Poorer pay to Negro teachers, driving good ones from the field,
Schools are let to lowest bidders to the same they're forced to yield,
Higher pay and better teachers for the white schools is the cry.
While encouragement is given Negro schools to starve and die.
Rural libraries established for the whites on ev'ry side,
But when application's made for Negro schools it is denied,
Thus they deal with education for the mass of Negro youth,
Posing still as great exponents and conservers of the truth.
From the sword of fierce Goliath we may all a lesson learn,
How while planning death to others on your head it may return,
In regard to schools for Negroes, cease their welfare to neglect,
For the same will come upon you in a way you least expect.
poem by Lizelia Augusta Jenkins Moorer

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They Are Our Future!
when a child is born
in a slum area, whether
it be assisted apartments,
trailer parks, low income
housing, or homelessness...
and he grows up amid hunger,
poverty, need, gunfire, drugs,
and street crime...
and the world he becomes an
adult in offers him little
chance for employment, or
education...
what do we expect?
what we often get is an angry
young man just looking for a way
to survive!
our young people most often become
the opportunity we leave for them.
we are responsible for their future.
for they are our future!
there are those who make their way
out of these abject conditions, and
go on to make the world a better place.
these should be our heroes!
but every child should have food,
shelter, a loving environment, an
equal opportunity for education, and
hope for employment! every child
should have an equal opportunity
to live his/or her, dream!
again, these children, are our future!
we are responsible!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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Charter schools are public schools that operate, to a certain extent, outside the system. They have more control over their teachers, curriculum and resources. They also have less money than public schools.
quote by Maggie Gallagher

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It's really important to say this. Often the faith schools were founded before the state provided education. I want good education in this country so I'm not going to slag off faith schools. I think that it's important that people of different backgrounds and different faiths go to school together and many faith schools do that.
quote by Ed Miliband

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I am and have always been a strong proponent of public education. But by the virtue of its very nature - publicly funded schools cannot offer the type of spiritual education that Catholic schools have long provided.
quote by Mark Foley

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And then the conditions of safety - or lack of safety - for teachers in public schools, and the disparity between public schools and private schools is shameful.
quote by Warren Beatty

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Cry For Education
All of them are running after you.
i can't because i don't have money.
My parents cannot provide me with a penny.
I pass through schools you are there.
I pass by the library, you are there.
I pass by the officers, you are there.
Every where you are there.
I came across students gambling.
I ask myself if this is the place where mr and mrs parent send them to?
I walk up and down yet still no opportunity for me.
I try O I try I cry!
Some have what I want but miss use it.
EDUCATION! EDUCATION!
poem by jalloh Alusine

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If we had in this room a hundred teachers, good teachers from good schools, and asked them to define the word education, there would be very little general agreement.
quote by William Glasser

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In America the schools have become too permissive, the kids now are controlling the schools, the tail is wagging the dog. We've got to make a change there and get it back to where the teachers have control of the classrooms.
quote by Chuck Norris

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A Call to the Gods of All Faiths
When the earth wasn’t probed
in all its nooks and corners,
the prophets found You all.
Men with Satanic spell invented
superstitious stories to thrive in life.
People built abodes of worship
and were inspired to write dictums,
for their welfare. Amends and Emends
were abhorred by the orthodox.
Billions of people crowd on this planet
with hidden swords and guns tainted with
views of crooked religious faiths.
Mothers pleased to undergo pain and ordeal
for giving birth to children, now stand before schools,
in the cold and hot Sun to get applications
for admitting their loved ones in those schools
which are said to be manufacturing doctors
and scientists with marvelous brains. The stars and
dancers of the tinsel world are from these schools.
O Gods of all faiths! Inspire the rude and crude minds
with thoughts of bringing You all under a single faith
and make Your palaces into secular, part-time schools
for all our children to pray and learn.
----------
poem by Rajendran Muthiah

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An awful lot of people come to college with this strange idea that there's no longer segregation in America's schools, that our schools are basically equal; neither of these things is true.
quote by Jonathan Kozol

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Bag, Pen and Pencils
'I need bag, pen and pencils'
Books and uniform are shown costly in bills
Mother has sold some of the metal utensils
I look helpless, sore and awkwardly feel
Whole world is open to me for struggle
How long parent can support and be able?
What can a little boy think of bright future?
I have no answer and not very much sure
Education has become now profession
It must be admitted with true confession
What are we going to impart to the children?
When they have no slight idea about future even
I recall those early days and feel elated
Teachers were seen with honor and highly respected
They may offer any kind of assistance at odd hours
Teaching profession was considered best and seen with honor
Each and every boy was known by face
There were sometimes health race
For open competition and scoring the marks
But not of today's schools as they are like big sharks
If you go by standard then poor parent can hardly afford
They have nothing to offer and look forward
The schools running with aid can hardly offer
The child may find only darkness in future
You can see the heavy school bag behind the back
The students have everything at stake
Right from lunch box to the subjects
Home work is already done and now time to act
We are offering different world and open sky
They have only to follow mad race and try
Who know what will they be tomorrow?
If circumstances are favored and allowed
They are future for country
But not all are happy
Only few can scale the ladder and occupy
Rest all watch helplessly and try
poem by Hasmukh Amathalal

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I do not see any reason why they should not be given the means to give their teachers just as high an education as is secured by attendance at the Protestant schools.
quote by Charles Tupper

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September
How can this year now be on its descent
Even before my time has been well spent?
Schools bulge with students and teachers.
Lectures and homework take on familiar features.
Though what is distinctly unfamiliar and tragic
Is how quickly learning quality is losing its magic
Due to ineptitude of leaders we’ve put in place,
Whose capabilities and interests leave a dark space.
Just as leaves start to wither and fall from the trees
Let us not stand by as our schools fall to their knees.
Students who suffer from this system so dower
Will be our incompetent, dishonest leaders tomorrow.
poem by Gregory Huyette

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To The American People
common sense solutions:
tax the wealthy.
tax corporations and financial institutions.
put a tariff on imports.
go back to building things here.
get behind the American farmers.
grow as much of your own food as you can.
raise the minimum wage.
change from oil addiction to alternative fuels.
stop the damn wars.
feed every child!
give every child equal education opportunities.
stop prescribing narcotic pills like m & m's.
take money out of the courtrooms.
let anyone live here that works and contributes.
teach your children respect.
teach them to read.
teach them to work.
make health insurance a part of your taxes,
on a percentage basis where it's fair to all.
give everyone equal health care.
take care of the aged and the disabled.
but people that can work need to work!
fight for the environment for our children's sakes.
quit fighting over religion, politics, and sexual orientation.
restore human dignity by equal rights, equal justice.
stop judging, and start affirming.
pay politicians minimum wage!
clean up the street gangs and the prisons...
put prisoners to work, and educate them!
stop building bombs and armies,
and rebuild this country...
the roads, the cities, the factories...
put people back to work!
stop spraying crops with harmful chemicals
and feeding animals antibiotics
that are dangerous...
and pay teachers like they have the most
impotant job in the world...
they do!
teaching your children!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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No More That Luxury
At one time schools were open plan
anyone and everyone could just walk in.
There were no locked gate
and high perimeter fencing.
No more that luxury can we afford.
There is always suspicion
of those waiting to come in.
Schools now have high fences
with sharp points on the end.
They have become more like prisons
to keep our children in.
Gone are the days
of a carefree atmosphere.
Now there are security cameras
around everywhere.
These are all needed
for the children in their care
to keep them separated
from the predators that linger out there.
28 October 2009
poem by David Harris

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And What Of Passion?
Can it be passion
That gives meaning to joy
Which results in emotions
Excelling in ardent employ?
Passion is wholly
Transforming, it transcends
Then creates sacred fires
In the heart that burn without end.
Chaotic and wild
At times it obsesses
But acts out deep fantasies
With a profound zeal - nothing less.
Rapturous passion
Exults in desiring
Each day's opportunity
To infuse spice into it's fire.
Passion means living
To fullness our loving,
Giving all to another
With unrestrained fervour as proof.
Primordial life
Inspires every heartbeat
With pure authenticity.
Pulsating energy defeats
Boredom - -
Passion is unbeatable.
They Cant Afford!
no prayer in schools,
no moment of silence...
might cause disrespect
of other faiths....
ban the books
that dont march to the beat,
that dont follow the lie...
no discipline, no values,
let them learn at home....
give them a crack pipe,
teach them to abuse
anyone that's different...
teach them to make money....
for you! ....
send the ones that fall out
overseas to fight....
or to prison to learn,
to master their craft....
dont let them exercise faith
with a deep respect for all faiths.
dont let them read,
brings about too many questions.
dont teach them respect,
they'll respect each other...
cant let them join together...
they'll stand up and protest...
pepper spray and batons,
the police state lives...
freedom's an illusion,
a drug to the poor....
a drug they cant afford!
poem by Eric Cockrell

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The segregated schools of today are arguably no more equal than the segregated schools of the past.
Too often we act - ask our schools to be truant officers, our teachers to be truant officers, because we're giving them children who have, you know, they're not ready to learn. And if they're not ready to learn by the third grade, they know they're behind.
quote by Colin Powell

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