An Ode to my Kiddos

~Of the past and the present~ 

I have a lot of characters

Seated in my classes- 

And everyday as I see them 

I feel the urge to write

Something about them. 

So here I am with these typed verses

To highlight the young souls 

I meet day after day... 

And maybe also wish them 

A Happy Children's Day! 

Oh ya, I know they're not 'children' anymore 

As I teach the Teens of The Schram Academy

But still they'll be kids to us educators.

They do seem to be just like we were- 

Back in the day... We just didn't have 

So many gadgets and headsets to block off 

The sounds around us anyway. 

Some of them are so cool- 

They know what they want 

With their life already 

Have no nonsense 

Say no nonsense

And focus to make their aspirations happen. 

Another sort are the backbenchers 

Who are the universal ones- 

(You'll find them in all institutions)

Always commenting and chatting behind- 

Thinking we teachers don't know 

What they do underground! 

Then we got the bookworms- 

Who I can totally relate to... 

Each book they bring to school 

Makes me wish to go back to those days 

When I could simply read all I could- 

All the time- even between the text in class, 

Or all through the night, 

Or while studying for a test! 

Enough of them- let's come to 

The silent ones 

These are of two types: 

One who just love to listen- 

They can be dreamers 

But must be darn good friends too. 

The other can be silently 

Scheming- or just care less 

To even speak up 

They might burst out one day- 

Or maybe indeed astonish you on the way! 

Sometimes some can be distracted or dreamy

But mostly they just want 

To have a good time- 

Looking outside more than to the front-

I just wish they would not do so 

At the expense of their Studies! 

Let's now visit the born jokers 

The ones who make the class 

Alive and eventful 

With their banters and jests 

Hopefully amusing enough 

To laugh along with them funny bones! 

Now for the sort who love 

To doodle and draw- 

In the Textbook and the desk 

Wherever they lead their paws 

No harm done-but just a doubt- 

Are they really listening to me? 

Kids today and yesterday don't wanna hear

Sermons and instructions 24x7- 

They want their space, their time to chat 

Their way and time to get things done 

And make it happen... 

That's how its been- 

And will always be! 

Whether they like the Chemistry formulas Or Kinematics, 

Python or Trigonometric Functions, 

Media Literacy or Money Matters, 

The foundations of Business or Economics, 

Poetic Devices or nothing fictional, 

We know they put their friendships 

And fun before everything else now 

But will come to our stance sooner or later! 

This Ode is a tribute to them- 

To my kiddos galore 

For being there-and being rare- 

For making my classes jolly darn good... 

Memorable yet scholastic more. 

You take me back to my school days 

And also remind me to be thankful for 

Being able to live my dream too. 

All I want to commend you 

Is to stay grounded and kind

To all around you...

And to give and take respect

wherever you go.

As this unrhyming thing ends

I gotta say, whether you are the smartest 

Or the least bothered, 

I got your back- and your marks- 

While you keep making memories 

And your mark on this globe.

Yours pedagogically,

Remya Rachel Thomas