A Poem for a Sign of the Times

Preface to the Poem
The following was written during the free time during the work day of a wonderful substitute teacher who has worked with the students I dealt with this school year. She has seen the challenge, which I have termed evil. She was thankful that she did not have to face this test of these students on a daily basis.
I have been thrown to the wolves.


The Reversal of the Tide

By
Francis Renaudin

Downhill Slide,
No more pride,
in accomplishing any task.
Get it done; I just want fun,
No questions will I ask.

Rude and loud, a noisy crowd,
With no determination to succeed,
No desire to process deeper thoughts,
this rapid new-born breed.

Rebellious, arrogant, think they're in control,
will submit to no law but its own,
They're empty and devoid of purpose,
The seeds of failure have been early sown.

What's happened here to display
such a rueful demise,
The nation's hope in its children
Has vanished before our eyes.

Can it be integrity,
Has host its place in virtue,
Has been replaced by pleasing the self,
Assuming it doesn't hurt in any way?

The respect once accourded to the pursuit of truth,
is a concept so far removed
from the thoughts of this generation
they want everything quickly and proved.

And the language - the tool to inspire thorough the ages
Has lost any semblance of grace,
It champions the aspects of darkness,
Moving goodness right out of its place.

Without these qualities, this nation will die,
There will be no spark to ignite,
The bell is tolling for this age of youth,
And the day is turning to night.

I Was Booed!

The awards assembly was held on Friday at the public high school where I teach. I approached the award podium to announce the senior winner of the teacher's association memorial scholarship. I was booed by some students this year. After making the presentation, I left. I worked in my room to get my lesson plans done, and other paperwork that was mounting. Is this how our Lord, or his apostles felt from time to time? Shunned, cackled at, booed? It is a cross, and it is painful.

Conrad Kraus

Faithful servant, kind priest, good-bye.

Today, I took a personal day from work, to attend the funeral Mass for Msgr. Conrad L. Kraus. I was privileged to have been a parishioner under his tenure. He trained the first Eucharist ministers, and I am one. He taught from a book, "A Most Holy Office."

I will never forget what he did to re-energize our parish, teach liturgy, create meaningful celebration, and tie to all together with his artful touch, and gentle instruction. We now had Eucharistic Ministers, female altar servers, a rightful Tridium celebration, and fabulous modern music.

He came at the right time. When he left to further his studies, we missed him. And like my mother, I lost one I loved twice, when he left, and when he entered into Eternal Life.

Little Princesses & Princes!

What makes students believe that the teacher is their servant? That must be because I am a servant. I teach, I spend hours working on their assignments, and grading their work, and preparing a lesson they'll do, and one that applies and is helpful. I am not a slave, however.

I had a girl show up in a sweat to class, again the last English class of the day, telling me she was so hot and sweaty, and could I go open a window? Mind you, she never asks without drama and in a loud manner, in which everyone can hear her request, or should I say, demand. I was seated, and had prepared the SMART board for the next presentation, and had a patient student who was waiting at the front of the class to present.

I thought to myself, what? Sit there quietly, and still, so you cool off. I am not your slave.

Next, I was still.

Be Still, and Let GOD!

Sadly, the loss of a fellow teacher

Deborah Sweeney, age 57, mother, grandmother, teacher, friend, fellow Catholic, died on April 30, 2009. She taught 5th grade at the elementary where both my children attended. She had been a brave widow for 25 years! She raised 4 children on her own, and put them all through college. She is the second member of our local teaching association to leave us for the Lord. She contracted a virus from school, an unknown carrier of a virus bad enough to lead to a killing pneumonia.
What is so alarming, is that she never could have imagined that this was a lethal hazard of teaching in a public school. Her dedication to the classroom, her dedication to her classroom, could lead to her death. She is the true embodiment of what it means to not only sacrifice but give up her life for others.

I wish you could see her smile. Sad, how obituaries don't seem to tell about the person's life or explain who the person was, which can only be experienced in the memories we cherish and carry in our hearts.

Deborah A. Sweeney

22 more days...

It is with great pleasure that I announce it is May and there are 22 more instructional days required of me to do my job. I am looking forward to the final day with these students. There are too many sassy students, too many rude students, too many students with issues who aren't in the correct placement.

At this time in the year, it is somewhat better, since the total numbers have gone down, and those who moved were mostly bad boys or behavior problems. At least half a dozen boys withdrew or moved, or have an alternative schedule. Two were Learning Support, one out of control, the other, well, a nice way to put it, couldn't handle the workload. Another was out on drugs, and the remaining 3 had family issues, or chose homeschooling. I can recall one girl who moved, so all in all, my workload was reduced by 7 - gone are Dan, Jacob, Jesse, Zavrye, Anthony, Jordan, David.

Shamefully, I do not enjoy teaching these students. May they go in peace, or just go.