Education

The Internet
a few clicks away.
All the world’s knowledge
and no need to pay.

But student loan debt
is strapped on to those
who want to better
themselves
and the world.

Pay to learn,
to contribute,
to create.
Pay to explore,
express and
experience.
Pay to live
a life worth
living.
Should that
not be available to all?
The freedom to be?
To follow your dreams?

So what do we really
learn from school?

How to conform,
how to fit in
with the norm?

How to impress,
how to remember
facts, pass tests?

Set up for working
long days
for little pay.
Enough to keep
the bills at bay.

With the daily grind,
you will find little time
for expanding
the mind.
You must learn
how to be on time
and walk in lines
to the fit-all
box for the mind.

Follow instructions,
don't fight
give in to corruption
Don't revolt
It's not the teacher's fault

Their hands are tied
With a system
designed
to give them
no time
for anything
outside.

Now that you're grown
What have you learned?
Do you feel prepared
for the world of work?

Did you memorise
names and dates?
History,
geography,
wars and crusades?

Did you learn
the boundaries
and divisions,
always written
by the hands
of the winners?

Did you learn
other perspectives?
Different authors verse?
World history
or just your little
spot on the earth?

Did you learn
how the system is run?
No time for fun.
Just the bare minimum?

Language
and maths,
science from
out of date
textbooks.

Business and
media studies,
How to advertise,
make money.
Enough to keep
the system running.

Creativity and free thinking
all but forgotten.

All taught
to praise
the curriculum,
trainer of slaves.

Top image Trapped By School by DestinyBlue