If You're Not From
The South Dakota Classroom
A group book written at the
Arts in the Classroom Conference
Sponsored by
South Dakotans for the Arts
Contents
Read the book: If You're Not from
the South Dakota Classroom, You Don't Know . . .
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South
Dakotans for the Arts
Janet
Brown, Executive Director
E-mail
Address: soda@dtgnet.com
Phone:
605-977-1378
Jean
Helmer, Writing Consultant
E-mail
Address: jeanhelmer@rushmore.com
Phone:
605-723-3037
If You're Not >From The South Dakota Classroom,
You Don't Know . . .
Preface
If
you're not from the Tower Room
You
don't know cozy
You've
not been cozy
Three tables with writers gathering 'round
Plus twenty-two chairs, not a spare inch can be found
Pens go flying, not a minute to spare
Stories and ideas crowd into the air
If you're not
from the Tower Room
You don't know
cozy.
If
you're not from the classroom
You don't
know the alphabet
You
can't know the alphabet
You've probably not met on a T.A.T, and likely not written an
I.E.P.
A.D.D. will not give you a sum
F.A.D, A.D.H.D., A.C.T., and S.A.T.
It's an alphabetic conundrum.
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If you not from the classroom You don't know the alphabet. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know dedication You can't know dedication |
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Our
dedication is straight from the soul Long
days and low pay, they can take their toll But
our students can trust our commitment to stay We're going to be here, we're not going away |
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If you're not a teacher from South
Dakota You don't know dedication. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know curriculum standards You can't know curriculum standards |
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Grouped
in benchmarks, grade by grade So
many redundant skills on every page Governor
Bill has impressed the need Insuring all teachers do their part to plant the seed |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You can't know curriculum standards. |
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If you not a
teacher from South Dakota, You don't know
politics You can't know politics |
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No Robin Hood
of old, to take from the rich and give to the
poor If you can't
demonstrate through test scores, they'll show you the door |
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As teachers of
children, you're forced into a game, Where every last child is thought to be the same |
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If you're not
from South Dakota You don't know politics. |
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If
you're not from this classroom, you don't know this child You can't know this child |
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He
may appear dull, he can't read well nor write He
may well be worrying about eating tonight, You
won't see the "aha," never know that it's there Suddenly pulling small knowings from crystal clear air |
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If you're not from this classroom You don't know this child. |
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If
you're not from this classroom You
don't know the joy, You can't know the joy |
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You
don't see the light in their eyes And
the fire in their hearts When
sudden understanding has come from the parts You
don't get the kisses, you don't get the hugs You don't get the head lice, you don't get the bugs |
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If
you're not from this classroom You don't know the joy. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know the temperature You can't know the temperature |
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In
August, my classroom's as hot as an intense fire burning, No
wonder it's hard to keep students on track and learning; In
January, my classroom's as cold as freezing arctic ice. We
bundle up in layers and wear mittens . . . but the principal's office is nice. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know the temperature You can't know the temperature. |
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If you're not a
teacher from South Dakota You don't know
summer You can't know summer |
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Spending weeks
in school Trying to stay
cool Preparing for
next year To make them all cheer |
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If you're not a
teacher from South Dakota You don't know summer. |
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If
you are an art teacher You
don't know a neat classroom You can't know a neat classroom |
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Paint
bottles here, brushes there Newspapers,
boxes, art work everywhere Eraser
crumbs on the table Cabinets where supplies have lost their labels |
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If
you're an art teacher You
don’t know a neat classroom You can't know a neat classroom. |
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If you're not
from the classroom You don't know
body odor You can't know body odor |
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You've never
been trapped on a hot August afternoon With twenty-seven
7th graders in a sardine can room They've played
football great guns at lunch Then proudly returned in a reeking, sweaty bunch |
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If you're not from the classroom You don't know body odor. |
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If
you're not from South Dakota You
don't know winter recess duty You can't know winter recess duty. |
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Fifteen
minutes seem like an hour Keeping
warm is not in your power You're
sure the bell is broken You think thoughts that can't be spoken |
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If
you're not from South Dakota You don't know winter recess duty. |
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If you're not
from the classroom You don't know
hormones You can't know hormones |
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Hormones are
able to change a child's day What was great yesterday
is awful today The smile that
was plastered all over her face Is gone now today without a trace |
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If you're not
from the classroom You don't know hormones. |
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If you're not a
teacher from South Dakota You don't know
the pay You can't know the pay |
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The
loans and the bills that come due every day Get
a job in the summer, it's the only way They
think we have three months' summer vacation We spend it in classes to renew certification |
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If you're not a
teacher from South Dakota You don't know the pay. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know dedication You can't know dedication. |
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For
the sake of the class, you work off your --- Pay
isn't the reason you stay year after year It's
care for the children who are true and sincere Boring
routine does NOT make us stay It's challenges, challenges, challenges each day. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You don't know dedication. |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You
don't know our kids You can't know our kids |
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Many
will give an A-average their all Other
skip classes to harvest in fall Some
brim with school spirit and join in the chants The rest won't be seen at a school-sponsored dance |
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If
you're not a teacher from South Dakota You don't know our kids. |
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If you're not a
teacher from South Dakota You don't know
our nights You can't know our nights |
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Up all night
grading, report cards are due Evenings
without a home ballgame are few In charge of
concessions we shovel popcorn Chaperoning prom 'til wee hours of morn |
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If you're not a
South Dakota teacher, You don't know our nights. |
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If you're not
from this classroom, |
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If you're not
from this fold of significant quacks, who pull, prod & jab at your little Max . . . |
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Come. Sit down--his life needs your touch. |
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So--we'll give,
swallow hard, and share, ooh, so much. |
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If you're not
from life's classroom, You won't know
the joy. In the
corner--way back-- See; your little boy. |
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Jean Helmer, editor
In
addition to teaching English and speech at Belle Fourche High School, Jean is
currently co-director of the Sicangu Writing Project and past director of the
Dakota Writing Project. In 1998 she received the Governor's Award for History
Teacher of the Year and was co-recipient of the S.D.C.T.E. English Teacher of
the Year Award.
Last Revised: February 26, 2000