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You are here: Home > Forum > A Place of Safety > General Talk > We need to listen to children
We need to listen to children  [message #76519] Sat, 01 February 2020 16:44 Go to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13750



On Monday, Billy didn't have his homework
And when the teacher asked him why
He said, "Because a monster ripped it up,
After I told him a lie."

"Now Billy," said the teacher.
"You know monsters don't exist,
And if you don't turn in your homework
No recess you will get

On Tuesday, Billy had a stomach ache
And when the teacher asked him why
He said, "A monster took away my dinner,
even my ice cream."

"Billy, I've told you once before,
Monsters are not real.
You'll have to wait till lunchtime
Before you get a meal.

"On Wednesday, Billy had a bandage,
Which covered his right eye.
When the teacher asked him how it happened,
This was his reply:

"A monster was running after me
When I ran into the door:"
"Billy please," the teacher said,
"I don't want to hear any more.

"On Thursday, Billy refused to sit down,
And when the teacher asked him why,
Billy said, "A monster whipped my bottom,
Because I started to cry,"

"Billy, said the teacher,
"this is getting out of hand,
And if you continue with these stories,
In the corner you will stand.

"On Friday, Billy didn't come to school,
And when the teacher found out why,
She said a little prayer to God
In hopes Billy would survive.

For a monster had beaten Billy
and threatened him with a knife.
Now Billy lay in a hospital bed,
Fighting for his life.

So teachers please remember,
That monsters are for real.
Listen closely to kids stories,
A wounded heart you may heal

[Updated on: Sat, 01 February 2020 16:50]




Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: We need to listen to children  [message #76520 is a reply to message #76519] Sat, 01 February 2020 16:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
timmy

Has no life at all
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13750



I do know it's doggerel, and a little trite at that, but the underlying message is real



Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
Re: We need to listen to children  [message #76521 is a reply to message #76520] Mon, 03 February 2020 01:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Teddy is currently offline  Teddy

Really getting into it
Location: USA
Registered: October 2006
Messages: 484



It is asreal as life and death to the kids who have monsters in their life. 



“There's no grays, only white that's got grubby. I'm surprised you don't know that. And sin, young man, is when you treat people as things. Including yourself. That's what sin is.” - Terry Pratchett
Re: We need to listen to children  [message #76522 is a reply to message #76521] Mon, 03 February 2020 06:55 Go to previous message
Talo Segura is currently offline  Talo Segura

Likes it here
Location: Europe
Registered: July 2019
Messages: 103



I thought you would like to know this poem was originally posted to the Tripod site http://patricia_f.tripod.com/poems.html Words of Wisdom for Teachers, where the author is attributed.

It has been reposted many times over the last two decades and is just as poignant as it was back at the end of the last century in the early days of the internet when Tripod sites started and webrings linked them. It's unfortunate the original author is no longer credited, but I guess things get lost along the way, but not the message. It touched my heart, thank you for posting.


Here is the original version (including errors):

Listen Closely 

On Monday, Billy didn't have his homework
And when the teacher asked him why,
He said, "Because a monster ripped it up,
After I told him a lie."

"Now Billy," said the teacher."
You know monsters don't exist,
And if you don't turn in your homework
No recess you will get."
On Tuesday, Bill had a stomache,
And when the teacher asked him why,
He said, "A monster took away my dinner,
Even my cherry pie."
"Billy, I've told you once before,
Monsters are not real.
You''ll have to wait til lunchtime
Before you get a meal."
On Wednesday Billy had a bandage,
Which covered his right eye.
When the teacher asked him how it happened.
This was his reply;"
A monster was running after me
When I ran into the door."
"Billy, please," the teacher said,"
I don't want to hear any more."
On Thursday, Billy refused to sit down.
And when the teacher asked him why,
Billy said, "A monster whipped my bottom,
Because I started to cry."
"Billy," said the teacher, "this is getting out of hand,
And if you continue with these stories,
In the corner you will stand."
On Friday, Billy didn't come to school,
And when the teacher found out why,
She said a little prayer to God
In hopes Billy would survive.
For a monster had beaten Billy
and threatened him with a knife.
Now Billy lay in a hospital bed,
Fighting for his life.
So teachers please remember,
Taht monsters are for real.
Listen closely to kids' stories,
A wonder heart you may heal. 

written byChristina Brinsley 

[Updated on: Mon, 03 February 2020 07:02]

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