what rules

It has always fun, interesting, and revealing to review material I’ve written in the past. To see how I’ve developed, how certain sentiments have evolved, and those things that I’ve remained connected to. Here is a poem I wrote in 2008. I consider this my Dr. Suess rhyme calling the governmental school system out. 

When working on my Master’s Degree in Math & Education, the title of my thesis paper was An Indictment of Education where I called the institution of education out. Just before I began my graduate studies in 2001, I wrote a poem I called Master’s Degree, which also called the educational system out. Looking back at my poem Master’s Degree, my graduate thesis paper, and this poem, my connection to education has remained steady. Whatever is in me that keeps me connected in this way is undoubtedly what has led me to yogāsana, Ptahñjali’s Yoga Sūtras, Astrology, the Christos story of the Bible (Bi + Bull), and to syncretizing these practical philosophies. 

WHAT RULES (2008)

Is it true that he who makes the rules rules,
Or he who rules make the rules?
Ponder ‘til you’re not confused;
then answer, who is he who makes the schools?

And how do schools relate to fools?
Are fools the ones who go to schools?
Or do the schools create the fools
who raise their kids to go to schools?

And when the kids attend the schools,
who tends to choose what books they use?
Are they friends who get to choose,
or foes who hope the children lose?

Could friends be foes who make the rules
and set up schools to make them fools?
Taught to learn to like to lose,
but who made sure they missed the clues?

Is it too late to make a change
and take a stand to set things straight?
Should we band to vindicate,
or hibernate and take this fate?

If we choose to take this fate
or wait to rehabilitate,
could we lose the ground we’ve gained
and see our chance evaporate?

Or could we fight to make things right
and set our sights on higher heights
by igniting childrens’ minds
so they can see to seek the light?

Should we spark the minds of youth
and motivate their hearts with truth?
...because the truth is that the youth
will follow through with what we do.
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