Why the universe would think giving grades in school is stupid, if the universe thought of such things.

You who believe
you really believe
you can step into the same river twice
that if something isn't working
it'll work if you do it again and again and again
or louder
or because it once worked
it should work
it will always work
if we could just get back to basics

And the only change you see
is the declining quality of the students
and it's you who tell that story
and you believe that it says more about them
than you

"These kids today!"

You who believe
when you say
"You have to give grades"
you really have to give grades
like it's a law of the universe
But the universe doesn't have laws
we just write them and pretend--and even so,
while writing laws of gravity and thermodynamics and such
we haven't written the law that says
you have to give grades

What do you believe will happen
if we don't give grades?
whatever it is
it's you who tell that story
and it says less about anything
than it does about you

You who believe we won't change
Or can't change, or if we can then it's bullshit
that's how you see
when you do see
change;
the universe composting
the universe, which doesn't have a law about giving grades,
or any law, really,
composting itself

Nothing is
nothing stands still long enough to be
sunlight quickens into us
before becoming earth
before falling back into the sun
and you think we
have to
give grades?
when do they stop learning--even for a moment?
do the shimmering excellences that are our children stand still long
enough even to say, "They're done. They have learned."
So maybe that's grandiose
but the grades tell a story
it's we who tell that story
and this story speaks nothing
but madman

And this thing I'm doing
telling you what you believe
it's me telling this story
and this story says a lot more about me
than it does about you
until you hear it
and go home and tell it to yourself
and then maybe it's about you
and then maybe you will change.

* Gary Chapin is a social studies teacher in Farmingdale, Maine. He's married to Bethany, and the father of Max, Brigid, Emma, Julia, and Sarah. He loves a good non sequitur and plays French accordion music.