1.  The Lord is ...

2.  My Shepherd

3.  I will not

4.  Want

5.  Even though

6.  I walk

7.  Through

8.  The Deepest Darkness

9   I Fear

10. No Evil

11. For

12. You Are

13. With Me

14. All

15. The Days

16. Of My Life

17. In Body

18. And Soul

Can one believe in education for the masses - an honourable concept?
Or, does it do to inept children, what it's employed to sidestep.
Not to the average or, the self teaching dux - far beyond the don.
Sadly, a round peg in an oversized hatch, balked on educational idiom.

To educate means to offer growth - both mental and emotional.
After eras of oppression - the opportunity of learning is sensational
But, only to those who're ready!  To force a lost child is hypocritic.
Would you give meat to a vegetarian or, force a lolly on a diabetic?

Many need emotional before mental growth, to recognise their forte.
Some have a natural phenomina of capability; distintive roles to play.
Some follow a course that can only advance by learning to the letter.
None need humiliation in finding limitation by comparison to a better.

There is no better, only different; it's not what they are taught.
Self esteem ebbs to non existant; in foreign networks they're caught.
They can't fit; behaviour relfects it - they no longer have a path.
Adult rejection & friends advancing, sets a trend for the aftermath.

Once rejected by even one hard-core, others tend to follow suit.
Child rejects all they stand for & can't distinguish pipe from flute.
The examples been set 'all misfts are the same & fit the same mould'.
Negativity donned by the pupil; no adult can void the crumpled soul.

The system of punishment - a burden; even adults would find a curse.
Hourly valuations - created in fear & anger; reinforcing bad to worse.
Adults respond to love, not criticism; why are kids hurt day by day?
Even crime isn't steeped in weeks of humiliation; this is not the way.

Adults create the system of punishment - troupers don't need a nudge -
& don't see it reinforcing pain, outcasts know they're being judged.
Late bloomers are like adults & need to choose - from crawl to sit.
Ostracision is permanent; the lesson they're learning? They can't fit.

Once a lesson is learnt, viz pain, it's nigh impossible to unlearn.
For freedom; understanding; acceptance; permission; these kids yearn.
I fear, the pain, the intensity of rejection remains bitingly adverse.
To be denied; hidden; in some cases avenged:  Now a community curse.

Robyn Anne Pace
16 July 1997