To JS/07/M/378

In place of a marble monument, all student data is warehoused by various state agencies

He was found by the Department of Education to be
One against whom there was no official complaint,
And all the reports on his test scores agree
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was without taint,
For in everything he did he obeyed Standardisto decrees,
Every day he appeared properly attired
Following classroom scripts and in dissent never was mired.
He satisfied the State and the literacy coach
His DIBELS delivery was above reproach.
He wasn’t a complainer, and didn’t ask to play
Instead braying ZIM ZUT VEP ZUZ every day.
Both Republicans and Democrats assert it:
21st Century children need recess to forfeit.
Corporate raiders are content
That this child scores a proficiency.
For Global Economy sufficiency.
Was he free? Was he happy? Don’t cause a fuss.
Had anything been wrong, AFT, NEA, and NCTE certainly would’ve told us.


by Susan Ohanian, with apologies to W. H. Auden