First graders ask a million questions,
they’re so curious about the unknown.
Captivated by their teacher’s lessons
Knowledge is power when they’re in the zone.
Twelfth grade: and curiosity nosedives,
Hands barely raised, and eyes barely open.
They’ve lost their childhood passion and drive.
Once bright minds of the future, now broken
Memorize material, spit it back out.
Make sure the essay conforms with the rubric.
So parents smile and are filled with hubris
Surely this is not what learning’s about!

The world’s progressing exponentially
Can’t keep thinking it’ll change eventually