The Reading Room

Featured Poem of the Month

HIGH SCHOOL TRAINING GROUND

Malcolm London

[The excerpt, as performed on TED Talks Education, May 7, 2013 PBS]

At 7:45 a.m., I open the doors to a building dedicated to building yet only breaks me down.

I march down hallways cleaned up after me every day by regular janitors, but I never have the decency to honor their names.

Lockers left open like teenage boys mouths
when teenage girls wear clothes that covers their insecurities, but exposes everything else.
Masculinity mimicked by men who grew up with no fathers, Camouflage worn by bullies who are dangerously armed, but need hugs.

Teachers paid less than what it costs them to be here. Oceans of adolescents come here to receive lessons, but never learn to swim, part like the Red Sea when the bell rings.

1:06 This is a training ground.

My high school is Chicago, diverse and segregated on purpose. Social lines are barbed wire.. Labels like “Regular” and “Honors” resonate.
I am in “honors,” but go home with “regular” students who are soldiers in territory that owns them.

This is a training ground.

1:40 Just sought to sort out the “regulars” from the “honors,” a reoccurring cycle built to recycle the trash of this system.

Trained at a young age to capitalize letters, taught now that capitalism raises you, but you have to step on someone else to get there.

I enjoy the opportunity to discuss interesting ideas that arise when reading good literature  with adult students of many backgrounds and experiences. Few things work better than that to lead us to appreciate our common humanity.

Thoughts from a program facilitator: Andrea

"Reading Between The Lines has gifted me with the ability to connect with others and express myself in ways I never knew how to before. This made me a little more confident with myself and more humble"‍ ‍participant quote

What Are We Reading this Quarter?

This Is What Healing Looks Like

Teach A Boy To Cry

I Spit Fire

What To The Slave Is The 4th of July?

Ponder

This is a training ground, where one group is taught to lead and the other is made to follow. No wonder so many of my people spit bars because the truth is hard to swallow. The need for degrees has left so many people frozen.

2:05 

Homework is stressful.
But when you go home everyday and your home is work you don’t want to pick up any assignments.
Reading textbooks is stressful.
But reading does not matter when you feel your story is already written, Either dead or getting booked.
Taking tests is stressful.
But bubbling in a scantron does not stop bullets from bursting.

2:27 

I hear education systems are failing, but I believe they are succeeding at what they’re built to do,
to train you
to keep you on track
to track down an American Dream
that has failed so many of us all.