'Twas the Night Before School Started (Philly version)

'Twas the Night Before School Started (Philly Version)
Stephen R. Flemming - Philly Public School Teacher

‘Twas the night before school started and all through the halls

Were the children, some teachers, and that’s about all!

One principal, some staff, a single secretary

No music! What art? Don’t even call that a library!

No counselors, few aids, and hardly supplies

Yet they call this a school? HA! What lies!

Barely enough funds, to open on Monday

Yet the Gov and the Mayor say, “Well, someday,

We’ll give you the money, you think you all need

But not before concessions from that blasted PFT!”

“Those teachers must give back some of the bountiful excess

You don’t need those high salaries or that hefty egg’s nest!”

But we’re saying, “No! You haven’t a clue!

What it takes to teach kids or make it on through

Through attitudes of despair and hopelessness ‘round

Because of the grown ups, who let them all down!

We spend hundreds of thousands collectively as staff

We sacrifice often to make supplies last!

So, no to give backs, we didn’t cause this problem

And we’re not responsible to help you both solve them!

So tomorrow we start, 8:30’s the time

Thirty-three kids, in two straight lines!

So on primary, on middle, and on teachers secondary

Elementary or high school, we’ve got to be ready!

On teaching, on learning, on standing up tall

Proud to be teachers, proud to called

Called to teach children and youth at all stages

Called to make an impact that’ll last through the ages!