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Mr. Ivan, The Principal Poet

The Teacher's Messy Desk


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My teacher's desk is piled high
With papers, books, and stuff.
And if it ever avalanched,
It'd kill a kid, sure 'nuff!
That's why I never like to
Stand by that dangerous mound
'Cuz if it ever hit a kid,
That kid would not be found!

Word has it that awhile back,
I'm not sure of the date
A kid went in for extra help.
The teacher was stayin' late.
Well, all was going peachy,
And the kid was getting help,
But the mountain started moving
And the kid let out a yelp.

Turned out it was his final yelp.
No other sound he made
As all those books and homework
Made him a papery grave.

They say his Momma came to school
To see if his body could be found,
But not even with a bulldozer
Could he be scraped up off the ground.

So, here's a word of good advice:
If you don't want to be mashed like that,
Don't ever ask for extra help unless
Your teacher's desk is flat!


Meet Ivan Kershner

Ivan Kershner, known to students and colleagues alike as Mr. Ivan, has been writing poetry for more than 40 years. During that time he has also been an English teacher in Wyoming, a high school principal in Nebraska and Colorado, an assistant superintendent in Nebraska, and a middle school assistant principal in charge of curriculum and instruction in South Carolina. In 1995, Mr. Ivan received a National Educator Award from the Milken Family Foundation. He also received the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education from Colorado's governor, Roy Romer. Schools or teachers wishing to contact Mr. Ivan may reach him at kershneri@anderson1.k12.sc.us.

Article by Ivan Kershner
Education World®
Copyright © 2007 Education World

08/05/2007