Home » Poems » Dominique Webb » Two Schools

Two Schools

I went to two schools in reality, 
But only had one in my mind, 
A school that assimilated and understood, 
A school that would not drive me blind. 

Daniels nursery was the best, 
In all ways apart from one, 
Because it accepted my difference, 
Respected my pensive hum. 

But they didn’t provide facilities, 
For my disability, loud and many times proud;
Sometimes I needed just to talk it over, 
‘Cos my disability was not a shroud. 

But I came top in both alphabet and numbers, 
The private Edinburgh school was not above me, 
And I managed to carve some friendships, 
That were a delight to see. 

But since they didn’t provide facilities, 
It was decided I would leave for another, 
For my future primary education, 
Where my disability would not be such my master. 

So I moved to a special school, Graysmill, 
Which asserted my normality fine, 
But they saw my clever mind as my parents credibility, 
And so for Daniels I would pine. 

I felt so much loved by Daniels headmaster, 
Who took me aside initially and asked, 
If I was happy and alright inside, 
And so my reality I never masked. 

I questioned him, “Do I have to believe in god?” 
And he replied lovingly and tenderly, 
“No Rhoda, you don’t have to believe in god,”  
So I was relieved and had hope for future longevity. 

So in daily assembly when I just thought my own thoughts, 
Contemplated and pondered quietly to myself, 
He smiled at me once ‘cos he knew what I was doing, 
That bold, quick-witted atheistic elf. 

But when I got to Graysmill as a new pupil, 
They thought their framework for me was the best, 
And tried to beget me with Christianity, 
Ramifying my parents traditional morality chest. 

After about eight months of hardship, 
I realised they did not understand as well, 
My real disability and proposition, 
Which would take them some way further. 

They were so uncaring at times, 
Forceful, heartless and cold, 
Lacking the relationships,
Upon which I could hold. 

They assumed I'd not liked Daniels,
And empathised with me about it,
Insisted I'd not taken to integration,
That along side me they did sit.

There should’ve been that middle ground, 
That state school with creative gumption, 
So that my worldview was never found, 
Lacking, with myself in need of instruction.

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