Image: Luis Roya
The teacher frowned
An all too familiar scowl
‘You are a fool,’ he muttered
Loud enough the back row heard.
I sat in the front seat, eyes focused
My mind a tizz. What? What?
Me? A fool, but I’m top of the class
Last term I was the best
What has happened?
‘Your homework,’ he announced to the class
Suddenly broken from their usual gossiping
They faced him waiting for his pontificating to commence,
Relieved it wasn’t one of them being accused
But me the smartest kid in class.
Humiliated, taunted, held to ridicule
He displayed my homework
Beneath the red pen emblazoned on my page
Was my last semblance of dignity.
‘An example for all,’ he said
‘Let it be known,’ he declared
‘I want accuracy, precision, truth
Not your own thoughts
Use the textbook as it was intended.’
As a purveyor of historical truth?
My work he dropped onto the floor
As if harbouring disease.
Offered praise to those around me
For copying from his hallowed book.
My desecrated effort I salvaged
Slipped into my bag,
As sniggers began around me.
Inside a voice heralded my foolishness
Stayed with me many a year
‘You’re a fool,’ it said. ‘If you don’t play the game.’
Written for: https://mindlovemiserysmenagerie.wordpress.com/2015/12/13/writing-prompt-137-the-fool/
Morpethroad 
I always hated teachers and lecturers like that. Totally got the wrong end of education. Wanted puppets not students. Their loss.
I totally agree with you, they missed the point of learning wanted little replicas of themselves and produced students bored to tears by their teaching or lack of it…..thanks for stopping by.
I always remember one telling me I was wrong in my interpretation of a poem. Like there was only one way to interpret it, even if you could justify your reaction. It’s a shame how many people have been put off education by just such teaching. Rule-bookers! Their book.
Ugh I agree it is their loss because their is nothing more beautiful or productive than creativity
Exactly Yves and I’d like to think I wasn’t one of those teachers….
I am sure you weren’t Michael
Most if not all of my teachers were like this. You did very well describing them!
Thank you I knew many like that…
I can still hear my KINDERGARTEN teacher telling me to be quiet or she was going to take my report card away & change my grades. Still 40+ years later – I want to go back in time & give her a piece of my mind. LOL
lol….i could well imagine you in a classroom, so much to say, shame they weren’t so much into student learning in those days…..