Behind crazed glass, a foreboding silhouette looms.
What new torment lurks beyond this trepidatious classroom door?
Flakes of milky green paint drop on logo-clad shuffling toes.
Bravery oozes from the pores of all who dare enter,
this oven-like torture chamber of enlightenment.

Fresh recipes of discovery, are being cooked-up within.
A pinch of sociology, a dash of economics, a few pounds of history,
all chucked in the bubbling cauldron.
"Students, take your seats.", reverberates sagging paper sheets,
that line these pin punched holey walls.

Dutiful pupils assume the learning position,
while screeching chalk strokes, and rubber sole squeals,
startle awake their absorbent minds.
Tasty seasoning, renders unappetizing information morsels palatable.
Flavorful data eased into hungry memory, and physiques.

Scholarly skills abound, within teachers lecture resound.
Though these lessons are no substitute for experience.

Another great topic Techno..


This captures students all over the world, fresh minds, not indoctrinated. The feelings penned in reminder of poem, i think, has a broad base of truth. High schools may actually be reversing innovative nature and development.

Alternate Scenario would be:
Suppose we agree (governments) that most of high school is thoroughly useless for life; and so stop.

For the majority of students - in math - we know that except for compound interest, statistics, some economics and an intro to Calculus - anything beyond will not be used. Anything advanced can be reserved for professional courses in college therefore done away with.




"pounds of history" v.important. I wonder why you left out the joys in language, literature and geography. (The poem is incomplete without these)


So in this alternate scenario, teens are freed to learn from YouTube and at their own pace - syllabi of their choice - with some appropriate counseling.

For group activities like tests, workshop time, sports and dancing - they pay; subsidized a little by taxpayers moneys. After all if at 16 they are eligible for DL, vote by 18, (and become mothers and fathers if they so desire - no sarcasm intended - just freedom and transparency to live as they please) then why not?

In effect, high school time would reduce to 6 months in a year and they get a diploma for attending these 6 months. Board exams only if they want to attend college.

In this scenario the questions are: Is it too much responsibility thrust at 16 and things like, would college admissions drop; etc.

I know it's just a poem - but it's worth bending our minds on.

Thanks for your interest in my writing, Palghat.

This poem went in a different direction than where it started out.

Regarding your suggestion of including other school subjects: I considered several others, including language, but for the sake of brevity decided on the ones I used.

Education is crucial to guiding developing minds with our best understanding of the facts of this world. Conventional regimented schooling has done a lot of good. For me, it wasn't a good fit. Self study, of things that interested me, and had more relevance to me, was preferable.