an angry teacher takes me to task

When I shared my previous blog post on Facebook, it was met with general positivity. However, an angry teacher dissented. She accused me of modelling 'bad' and 'incorrect' writing. This is what she said:

this isn't the standard that kids should have modelled. How will they learn to do things correctly if they're taught to do them wrong?

At the time, this was my response:

When I teach poetry, I demonstrate that the first step is to get ideas down on the page, without fear, with a pure love of creativity. Editing comes later. Kids shouldn't worry about getting everything right first time. That's what I'm demonstrating. I am giving away a writing idea for free. Use it, don't use it, it's up to you.

I bear no animosity toward the teacher. I have nothing but respect for the amazing job teachers do. But I couldn't resist writing a poem in response. The poem is below. I'm still not too sure about the ending. (NB the poem is NOT an attack on teachers. I love teachers. I am married to a teacher. The poem is just a bit of fun.)

I Tried to Write a Poem 

I tried to write a poem

but my teacher told me NO – 

I hadn’t put a comma

where a comma has to go;

my mind was far too hasty

to begin my writing, so

I hadn’t written up the date

or drawn a line below.

I tried to write a poem

but my teacher told me STOP – 

I hadn’t done my title

or affixed my name on top; 

my letters were all wonky 

and my spelling was a flop; 

the way I held my writing pen

was surely for the chop. 

I tried to write a poem

but my teacher told me HALT – 

she bellowed her displeasure

in a thunderous assault;

a crucial thing was missing

and its absence was my fault;

in light of my excitement

I neglected to put ‘WALT’.

I tried to write a poem 

but my teacher told me CEASE – 

the way I formed my syntax

would offend the Grammar Police;

my mind was full of wonder

which I had to now release;

the levels of my eagerness

I needed to decrease.

I tried to write a poem

but my teacher shot it dead;

I’ll gather my ideas up

and put them all to bed; 

I’ll take my inspiration

and I’ll pour it out my head,

then hand in my humanity

and be a tree instead.

Joshua Seigal