The 800 Pound Gorilla Question In Education Poem by Bill Grace

In exploring a little of the worlds of Gibbon and Freeman last night
I think Al Evans (my old civics teacher) would be pleased to know
His only so-so student had persevered
And helped to write a little history
At Camp Rissington before it came to San Antonio.

My great teachers ignited a hunger
Far more than force feeding me to pass New York's tests.
The first issue in educational process
Is far more than asking good teachers to split their vision
Between a manditory standard and what they truly want to teach.
In looking at the calculus of education we frequently ignore
The eight hundred pound gorilla question in education:
Does the student want to learn?