Panagiota Romios Poet Couplet

Second Grade Terrorists

~~~Second Grade Terrorists~~~

Chicago Public Schools

I graduated in January, happy as a lark!
I was able to enlighten young ones, no longer would
they have to live in the dark!

With my little blue Fiat, as sweet as candy,
I drove to a Chicago hood, to launch my life as a teacher,
I knew it would be just dandy.

Fate had other plans for me though!
These second graders had seven teachers prior to me.
whom they turned into playdough.

Such cute little boys and girls, I mistakemly thought!
But once the principal left, all manner of mischief they
sought.

Their favorite habit, if I recall, was sneaking out of their
chairs.
To show off their talents extraordinaire, writing pornographic
words on the blackboards with a flair!

Another was causing fights in a totally quiet class,
By mumbling to another~"Yo Momma, got a big _ss!"

Stealing another's pencil turned the room upside down,
Desks turned over, flying debris, I remember that class
With intense perfidy.

I was able to get assigned in two months to another
school.
Yes, in the hood but in this school the principal was
tough as nails, and never allowed any teacher to be 
made a fool.

My days at the new school were fun and very pleasant, 
I loved my years there.
Teaching was fulfilling now and hardly a bear.

In memory of Yakir W. Korey- CPS Principal. The Best!
Who saw the potential in each new teacher and was a
support, mentor, but never a critic! Thank you!


Panagiota Romios
5/2/2019
2:30pm PST

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Panagiota Romios May 3, 2019 at 3:11 AM Tom, thank you. It was great to work for a principal who was Unafraid of the PTA, was more than willing to discipline children as needed and would allow NO ethnic group push him around as they do these days. He was also Unafraid to raise his voice. Too many teachers play child psychologist. Children need leaders, not chums....thank you...Panagiota

Tom Cunningham May 3, 2019 at 2:02 AM A lovely tribute Panagiota. Tom Panagiota Romios May 3, 2019 at 3:12 AM Tom,,,sorry, see my reply in above box. Panagiota

Gershon Wolf May 2, 2019 at 10:43 PM Wonderful tribute to Yakir. Unfortunately, principals like Yakir are fewer and fewer these days, as the CTU and the PTA throws the teachers under the bus... I never taught in CPS, only in private schools in Chicago, in yeshivas, and you can certainly understand why! Blessings, Gershon Panagiota Romios May 3, 2019 at 3:01 AM Bless you Gershon for teaching in Yeshivas! There was one in the back of my home in Hyde Park. I was able to see into the classrooms! Nothing like a public school. Yakir was a mensch plus)). He feared nothing. He met with the toughest gangs, the PD afraid to go. He died right after Rosh Hoshana. Blessings, Panagiota

Caren Krutsinger May 2, 2019 at 6:58 PM "A beautiful tribute to Yakir W. Korey- CPS Principal." Do you keep in touch? You should send this to this wonderful principal; I know Yakir would be touched! Panagiota Romios May 2, 2019 at 7:24 PM Don't make me cry, Caren! Yakir Korey passed away about 10 years ago. After teaching in the hood a few years,I flew to Ca and taught in the SFUSD. Then back at CPS..and Mrs Curry..arg on 55th. I quit one day. And found Mr. Korey on the north side.greatest years in teaching for me. His wife died, two years ago Panagiota