All past things considered,
Most of the writing is not worth reading,
Most of the art not worth viewing.
Most of the music not worth listening to,
And much of the science flat out wrong.
Education, then, is about the very little bit
That’s not left out.
The Language Arts teacher holds up a book
And says, “Be patient and let me
Show you the wonders of Shakespeare;”
The Art teacher says, “We now can surely see
Such greatness in Cezanne;” the Music teacher,
“We have fitted out our ears for Thelonius Monk;”
And in Science, it is one triumph after another.
The Social Studies teacher shuts the door
And is told to say, “Let me tell you about
The past, and about how bad people have acted.”
