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ABOUT THIS SONG More teacher stuff...please read through the narrative for the song, Teacher Teacher, to learn more about my teaching experiences. This song was a day in the life of the teacher, an insider's view of the raw world of being a teacher at the Elementary Level. Too often people would give me flak about teaching saying how much time we got off and the vacations and only working 'til 3...shaddup! Teaching is a full time experience. Teachers took their work home. They had endless preparation and correcting. They took the energy of each child home and problem solved and challenged themselves to find the thing that would make it click for Alison, for Johnny, for Mark, and Kathy, and Jeremy, and Brenda, and Monica, and...everyone of them as important as the other. It was quality moments peppered in with melt downs and traumas , mistakes, celebrations, recess tears, anger, frustration, wanting to run away...you name it. Constant energy moving. 33 powerful beings interfacing in a confined space trying to have a quality time...day after day. That's not even bringing up the administration issues and the yellow tablets and the surprise visits and yard duty and the assemblies and who's covering the walkway on a rainy day, and how can I get away...that everyone had scream out at one time or another. Let's just say that it was a full life experience. I have the utmost respect for those who hear the calling. They are very special people...dedicated to making a profound difference for as long as and in any way they can for that classroom in that moment. I'm in tears just writing about it...it's precious, it's rich, it's terribly frustrating at times, and is filled with yearly beginnings and endings. The relief of the last day of the year, and the impending Summer vacation, was quite soon replaced by the emptiness that would wash over the moment we realized that we would not ever do this again with this group of children. Deep connections terminated...emptiness, sadness, grief...for a week or so...and then the personal cleansing through the Summer to find the ground and a center again. By mid-August you were already amping up, turning attention, gathering egg cartons and popsicle sticks...break, not really...it was simply a time to let go, clear out, recharge, and begin anew...don't you dare talk bad about teachers!...unless you are willing to take their place for a week, for a day, for an hour...you just do not know. So to teachers who are the caretakers of the 33 dreams that year, I honor you, one and all, with this reminder of the trenches... I keep hearing my dream...give every little child the keys, let those precious hearts and minds sail free... |
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SONG LYRICS: MY DREAM Classroom of 35 never enough time Papers all over the floor Conference this afternoon 99 days till June Tired of hearing they’re bored But there’s something that keeps Calling to me I keep on hearing my dream To give every little child the keys Let those precious Hearts and minds sail free Principal’s coming in Lesson plans due again Meetings tomorrow till five In One month the tests begin Patience is growing thin Wonder if I can survive CHORUS Sally is losing ground Roger still sends me frowns Tammy can’t spell her own name Eddie still fights with Bill Kathy just won’t sit still Tomorrow they say it will rain CHORUS Then there are moments When it all grows quiet And the gates are opened wide And the lesson flows And each child grows There’s a joy that you Just can’t hide And we fly, we all fly But then district expectancies Love to teach what I please Teachers are ready to strike Got yard duty twice this week Measles and lice on Zeke Freddie the hamster just died ©1996.Music for Every Soul. All Rights Reserved. |
09 My Dream
