Teacher's Prayer

In a country like the United States of America, where supposedly one can pull oneself up by the boot-straps to become a solvent and prosperous individual, ideas are the commodity by which such a upward mobility is made possible. Thus, the means by which those in power can best keep the money to themselves is by creating a sense of bafflement: that the individual has no power, and that his/her imagination should not be nourished. This disenfranchisement of the thought-power of today's youth is only further enhanced by job outsourcing to foreign countries, adding to the unemployment and depression (also fueling this country's armed forces by creating a new section of the lower class which must enlist or face destitution). Taking control of one's imagination is the first step towards a reclamation of one's own national liberty. Ideas are very powerful things: they can enhance our world in just as many ways as they can destroy it.

"Order is the order of the day
With chaos never far away
But fear lurks in the teacher's soul
Ask no questions as long as they're quiet
But place is better than a riot
The shame of losing your control

Fear lurks in the teacher's soul
The shame of losing your control
Encouragement is a golden star
Verbal abuse doesn't show a scar

Living is learning, answering questions
Don't make problems, just suggestions

Choose your teachers from everywhere
It might be next door on on the air
The old have a lot of time to spare
You can teach yourself if you care

Open up their minds but not too far
Or they might ask questions that
Are not in the books
Some imagination is all right
Until the point when you take fright
And ordinary gets bizarre

Asking questions that aren't the book
Ordinary levels get bizarre
Encouragement is a golden star
Verbal abuse doesn't show a scar

Living is learning, answering questions
Don't make problems, just suggestions

Choose your teachers with great care
Brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, whoever's there
The old have a lot of time to spare
You can teach yourself if you care

Conscientious worker needs to give
His full attention to his attitude
And to his whole approach
Should do well but could try harder
Easily distracted but he is a helpful
Member of the class
He lacks interest and is lazy
Disrespectful hold him back for arrogance
And wit won't get him far
Some improvement quite good progress
He can see the need for effort
If he wants to earn himself a star

School teaches us that we all must learn our tables
But not how to turn the tables
We could turn them 'round
Get accustomed to a five-day week and
Praise for being nice and meek
And keeping your eyes on the ground

You could turn the tables 'round
Pick your eyes up off the ground
You could turn the tables 'round
Pick your eyes up off the ground

Living is learning, answering questions
Don't make problems, just suggestions

Choose your teachers with great care
Brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, whoever's there
The old have a lot of time to spare
You can teach yourself if you care"

Desperate Bicycles - "Teacher's Prayer"
(lyrics printed without permission, to be taken down if requested)