Poetry for Women (By Women, For Women, About Women)

Bye Bye Baby

With head bent low he watches her go,
bravely facing a world she does not know
He smiles goodbye and covers up his tears
for he must be brave if she looks back in fear.
Every fiber of his being wants to run and gather her
close to his heart but he makes his feet firm on the ground
all smiles as she turns round.
The first of many firsts for her and
he knows the pain of each step will remain.
Her first day of school is her first step away from
the safe harbour of a father's love 

Noreen Carden

Latest Student Included in “School to Prison Pipeline”

Latest Student Included in “School to Prison Pipeline”

Earlier this year I heard what I thought was great news, the president mandated that all schools receiving federal funding (most schools) will be ‘encourage decriminalizing school infractions’. What I meant by that was that now schools have a guideline to follow so students won’t suffer by being overly disciplined or disciplined unfairly amongst their peers. There are plenty of reports and statistics that have proven and driven for such policy changes, especially as it pertains to racial discrimination, but overall all students suffer. Those who are directly subjected and otherwise are all affected in such acts for it creates a feeling of inferiority among classes in the student body which in turn cases segregation that can lead to such politics regarding race. Many critics have come under fire of the Obama administration for the ‘guidelines’ they've set saying that it is racist because the guide post for leading the legislation is that there are more blacks in jail than whites, and that for his entire presidency he’s been overly zealous in his attempt to change the country; he doesn't help to elevate the poor and underachieved but to take from those of the high end of the economic scale.

Despite the opinions and feelings of others another incident involving a high school senior, a Caucasian male, proves that these infractions are truly costly to the futures of the students incurring them and that something needs to be done.

Jordan Wiser, a student at Ashtabula County Technical School in Jefferson, Ohio was expelled from school after a search of his car turned up a folding pocket knife in a jacket/vest, both used for EMT training. Because of his schools ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy Wiser was referred to the police department and expelled from school. Fox News reported that the school district is obligated to motion for expulsion once a student is found with banned items on campus. School officials reported that it was the decision of the police and prosecutors to charge Wiser with illegal conveyance of a weapon for having the knife which leads to him spending thirteen days in jail.

School officials maintain that he search was prompted after viewing Wiser’s YouTube page, but the videos posted are not of violently graphic, or horrific scenes; Jordan is there teaching the world how to wield the knife, yet he was expelled from school for it. As detailed on his YouTube page it is Jordan’s aspiration to join the Army and serve his country. Now his aspirations are to finish high school over an online program, rather than in the comfort of a classroom filled with his peers. For Jordan Wiser and all other students like him, the school to prison pipeline is very real and swift.

Regardless, the school to prison pipeline is a very real, very dangerous policy which educational administrators have practically built with their use of ‘zero tolerance’ policies and all students, regardless of their racial disparity are victims, once entering the system.  The ACLU defines the ‘school to prison pipeline’ as follows;

“A disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished and pushed out.”

“The “school-to-prison pipeline” refers to the policies and practices that push our nation’s schoolchildren, especially our most at-risk children, out of classrooms and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.  This pipeline reflects the prioritization of incarceration over education.”

Because of such incidents growing in numbers over the past years all over the nation the Obama administration has urged schools and administrators to amend zero tolerance policies, and school discipline procedures so that school infractions remain a school problem. The call for such action has been ridiculed as being slightly racist, but statistics have proven that minorities (black, Spanish, ELL’s, Special Needs, etc.) are those mostly affected by the strict disciplinary actions, and they are also among those who are falling behind. Within the ‘guidance package’ created by the administration to detour such infractions includes federal initiatives that coincide with school discipline as well as resources along with the guidelines.

 I urge parents as well as teachers and administrators to ‘push’ for integration and adaption of these guidelines. We, as a nation, only seem to take note of injustice ‘after’ the fact; its high time we step up to the plate and start making the hard decisions that will lead to better lives. By voicing our opinions, norms, and values we can help to steer school disciplinary infractions as we have fought for equality in education and even the abolishment of segregation.

The school to prison pipeline isn’t biased; it also has a zero tolerance policy. 

Children's Corner; Christmas Stories

Mama's Christmas Miracle

Mama told me a story a long long time ago not like any that I'd ever heard,

all about a little girl mama used to know, how I remember every word.

Seems like a lifetime ago, though I remember it so well,

it was a Christmas eve I'll never forget as far as I can tell.

We were sitting at the kitchen table, it was only my mother and me,

I was dreaming of Christmas morning and all the presents under the tree.

Dad wasn't doing that well and money was scarce that year,

Mama found a way of telling me without me shedding one tear.

She told me a story of a little girl and a Christmas long ago,

who came from far away, a place where it rarely snowed.

Santa was just a dream to her, but she believed so much inside,

that Christmas was going to be special, so she knelt by her bed and she cried.

"Lord let Santa remember me if not just this one time, I promise I won't ask for much, maybe a dolly I can call all mine."

She closed her prayer and thanked the Lord for all that she received,

she knew that Santa would really come if only she believed.

She wrote a letter to Santa unfamiliar to most girls and boys,

Though her list was long and full, on it there were no toys.

Only things we take for granted, like new shoes or underpants,

hair bows for her sisters and gloves to warm her brother's hands.

At the bottom of her list she asked if it not be to much, for a brand new baby doll she could hold and love and touch.

Then Christmas morning came and she looked beneath her tree,

Not a present to be found as far as she could see.

She didn't give up hope as she heard a knocking sound,

When she opened up her door a great big box she found.

She called out to her mother and dad, brothers and sisters too,

She said "my prayers were answered, there's something in here for all of you."

Her daddy got brand new boots, her mother new underpants, her sisters got beautiful hair bows, her brothers warm gloves for their hands.

Buried deep beneath the box was a brand new baby doll and a note that said Merry Christmas I love you one and all.

I'll never forget that story because much to my surprise,

I saw the true meaning of Christmas shining in my mother's eyes.

For those of you who are wondering, as if you didn't know,

The little girl in Mama's story was my mother long ago.

This poem is about a childhood memory I will never forget. God bless all the mothers in this world and may all your Christmases be ones to remember.

© Kathy J Parenteau

Source: Mama's Christmas Miracle, Christmas Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/mamas-christmas-miracle#ixzz2nlt6WS9N

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