Blackboard Jungle Revisited

 copyright 2011 by Sam Yulish

i.

Josh Edwards, Rookie Teacher of 1955,

collects Big Band and Swing.

He is proud to finally lead his own class,

wave goodbye to lowly substitute days.

He is over-anxious to share the Duke and the Count

with Roosevelt High’s 2000 students.

On the third day, Josh brings his record player

and classic collection of 78’s,

hopes of taming a rowdy business math class.

During the first song, the “A Train”,

unappreciative school bullies frisbee Josh’s musical treasures.

Even smash Benny Goodman’s best.

ii.

Thirty years later, Josh counts down the days to retirement.

He reflects upon twenty thousand math lessons

of mechanical teaching, lack-luster performance;

bitterness that poisoned a possibly great career

and inflicted discouragement on many an innocent student.

As Josh dresses for his son’s high school graduation,

he considers one more year,

one last chance to find meaning in a dying profession.

He starts by throwing out dust-collecting broken records,

resentment-preservers of three decades.