Day 101: ISS

I subbed for an ISS class, yesterday and today. It was very interesting. You really get to know the students because you have them for seven hours straight (in my case the same basic group for two days). I don't think there was a "bad" kid in the bunch. Just a bunch of kids who need to learn to make better choices. Yesterday, I told them about my poetry-writing project. I read them a few, and they really seemed to like them. Then this morning I asked them what I should write my poem about today. They all said, ISS. So I did. They seemed pretty stunned when I read it to them. They loved it, and I gave them each a copy.

ISS
By Batsheva 3/12/10

It's called ISS
Which is
"In-School Suspension"
And I'll tell you this
It's much worse than detention
They keep you locked up
In a windowless room
And the other kids laugh
'Cause they know that you're doomed
To spend your whole day
With blank walls of concrete
Where you have to be quiet
And stay in your seat
You can't see your friends
In class or the hall
You just have to work
Or stare at the wall
And even at lunchtime
It's still just the same
A cold bag of food
Bland, boring, and lame
That you're forced to eat
In that same tiny room
Which easily could be
Considered a tomb

So if you don't want
To be in ISS
Then take my advice
And stay out of this mess
Respect other people
Obey every rule
Remember the reason
That you're here in school
You come here to learn
And you'll learn a lot less
If you're stuck in this place
That they call ISS.