Carolyn Devonshire Poet Monorhyme

Exasperation Over Expectations

Today’s students strive only to meet expectations
We used to go all out to exceed expectations
Young people have no real goals, just vague destinations
Their minds seem to be set on low-level vibrations
 
Our young people seem to lack worthy aspirations
Discouraged teachers are left with exasperation
With weapons in schools they must avoid confrontations
And keep a close eye on escape route locations
 
These kids can’t even hold meaningful conversations
Or do the simplest mathematic calculations
Their free time is spent in video game fixations
A "C" or a "D" harvests little indignation
 
Teachers get no support from school administrations
Even when students fail final examinations
These unmotivated kids have few variations
They only want to slide by and meet expectations
 
One day these children will be running corporations
Or choosing how governments make appropriations
It’s frightening when you consider the implications
For our world's future, I have angst-filled expectations



* For Paula's "Meeting Expectations" contest

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Carol Sunshine Brown February 22, 2011 at 11:43 AM Congratulations on your win Carolyn in Paula Swanson's contest "Meeting Expectations". Love, Carol

Elaine George February 9, 2011 at 4:32 AM I knew this one would be on the winners list, Carolyn. Many congrats on your BIG WIN. Lainie

Kory Calhoun February 5, 2011 at 9:13 AM Hi Carolyn - Congratulations on your WIN in Paula's contest. Best wishes, KC

Robert Pettit February 4, 2011 at 10:34 PM How you managed to compose this entry in monorhyme is amazing! Congratulations on your win in Paula's contest.

Sara Kendrick February 3, 2011 at 4:33 PM Congratulations on your win..Sara

Andrea Dietrich February 2, 2011 at 10:42 PM I belive I saw this one before and I just knew it would make the list. Congratulations, Carolyn. You deserved a win with this. LUv, Andrea

Debbie Guzzi February 2, 2011 at 4:50 PM ahh the schools, a lost cause I think. Congrad's Light & Love

Dr.Ram Mehta February 2, 2011 at 3:55 PM Congratulations on the seventh place win in the contest, carolyn

Audrey Haick February 2, 2011 at 12:20 PM Warm congratulations on your great win with this so relevant verse, Seafaress! Love, Audrey

Francine Roberts February 2, 2011 at 10:35 AM wonderfully stated Carolyn , congrats on your win in the contest

Joyce Johnson February 2, 2011 at 8:59 AM Great work and great win. We can only hope that there are a few honest and willing students to be depended upon to keep things going in the future. Congratulation Carolyn. Love, Joyce

Gert W. Knop February 1, 2011 at 9:11 AM Hi Carolyn, so true what you have penned here!This is also valid for some German pupils depending on their backgrounds! These fellows won't understand life and are open to negative propagands (of the right wing Neo-Nazi). This is a dengerous development. Best of luck in Paula's contest!...Love, Gert

James Fraser January 30, 2011 at 6:23 AM Your bang on with your ions Carolyn, good luck in Paula's contest....:)

Dane Ann Smith-Johnsen January 29, 2011 at 3:28 AM Great write about education times. Children still have imaginations, but FCAT tests have lowered expectations...across the board. Teachers have to teach to the tests instead of to inquisitive minds...so, minds don't inquire as much and video games win out. More technology in the classroom might help...but then, teachers might be devalued by government, again. I think they miss the picture overall! Children respond best to human praise but machines can be more entertaining...expect balance!

Timothy Brumley January 28, 2011 at 1:47 PM Well said Carolyn, but I think that the plight of this generation's educational dilemma is a symptom rather than the disease itself. The disease being apathy. In the life cycle of any democracy you begin with oppression, then revolution, to abundance, that leads to apathy, which allows oppression, and comes full cycle back to revolution. We as a nation are, I believe, well into the apathy stage of our culture and are entering into the oppression stage.

Daver Austin January 26, 2011 at 9:54 AM After thirty years of teaching, I still maintain that the parents are the main problem. I'm not saying it's all their fault. Many parents are having to hold down two jobs and then are barely making it. Still, going back when this wasn't the case, I found most of student problems were because of a lackof parental responsibility. Love, Dave

Lisa Cole January 26, 2011 at 4:12 AM this is a very precise and thorough write i really liked it thankyou x

Stacey Watts January 25, 2011 at 6:15 PM It is such a shame and we have become a selfish society with no real goals or ideas. For us to be so technologically minded we sure do do most that is not right. Very well expressed.

James Peranteau January 25, 2011 at 4:06 AM Dear Carolyn, as a parent...Lord knows, you've nailed this with undeniable facts ! A great entry my dear poet, and an inspiring motivator to help balance what seems to be 'the real future' if we as parents do not step in with 'heavey foot ! Great write Carolyn ! much love, james

Elaine George January 24, 2011 at 8:29 PM Unfortunately - this is all so true. Brilliant entry, Carolyn. Lainie

Diane Locksley January 24, 2011 at 1:37 PM You hit the nail on the head regarding the problems with our young students. If they try to run government like it's a video game, the only winner will be the last country standing. All the others will have been attacked and destroyed. I am worried about our future too.

Joe Maverick January 24, 2011 at 11:29 AM i mean (try) some realisim!

Joe Maverick January 24, 2011 at 11:25 AM good write here Carolyn, you know if you don't laugh you will end up crying, i just hope after the laughing spasams are over someone just might trying some realisim, its the only way!

Michael J. Falotico January 24, 2011 at 9:23 AM Yes my dear its my first solo contest, hope you enter luv Michael

Sidney Beck January 24, 2011 at 8:36 AM oooops...just popping in here to say.......I remember you liked TEN SECONDS IN THE STORM about an extreme boat trip.....well, Carolyn, I have another called BACCALIEU EPISODE which you may have missed and you may enjoy.....read if you have time...no need to write comments....best wishes ...Syd

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