The truth about school
By: Dono James

In spite of my learning I feel like a fool
For it took me so long to learn the truth about school
You don’t know how it goes? You don’t know the rules?
Then let me tell you my version of the truth about school
From my days in pre-k to my completion of college
I was told by society I was obtaining knowledge
But from what I have been through and what I can see
My convictions tell me that I must disagree
I admit in my youth not interacting with people
Which was all the more reason I saw school as evil
But as I matured and became more social
It was more of a process and less of a chokehold
Then my years in high school were somewhat a coma
Where I didn’t really learn but filled up a quota
But with flying colors my diploma was earned
And I looked forward to college to actually learn
To start my life over I was truly excited
After my first year I felt somewhat enlightened
But in spite of my joy I needed a pause
For I came to notice there were still a few flaws
Not really a flaw, but a legitimate scam
A plot to take money away of my hand
Conceiving to deceive us whenever they choose
Charging hundreds of dollars for books that aren’t used
Even worse than that is the ugliest case
The time spent on a degree in the first place
In spite of our major to earn our degree
We’re forced to take classes we really don’t need
And their justification, at which I’m dumbfounded
They say that they want us to be well rounded
But in spite of its faults I kept my head in the air
Because college here is still better than high school there
The flaw in that logic showed not after long
When it showed for the most part I truly was wrong
Being in school for almost as long as alive
I’ve been doing the same thing since I was about five
Waking up in the morning and wasting the day
Listening to jibberish someone has to say
This procedure is twisted and far from anointed
If that’s the best way to learn then I’m disappointed
But I was told school would increase how much I get paid
So I’m not here to learn I’m just here for a grade
And once my time finishes, what do I see?
A fancy piece of paper they call a degree
Yet in spite of the struggle of putting many years in it
I would not so much as wipe my rear with it
The bane of my existence and the source of my strife
I could do without school for the rest of my life
Having stood it so long I hope not to stand more
I hate all that school is and all it stands for
Being barely a step above pure embezzlement
It’s the greatest façade of human development
So if I go past a bachelor’s let the world be a witness
My reason for going was strictly ‘bout business
As in my observation the truth has unfurled
Real learning occurs with time in the real world
And with that being said I can soundly assert this
Education is priceless but academia is worthless
In fact the thing that disgusts me the most in particular
Is that I might have learned more through my extracurriculars
But this sick institution had me worried and stressed
Oppressed by the papers and distracted by the tests
To compare school to work is truly a fallacy
For in all ways it puts us out of touch with reality
Where the number 4 is that which everyone dreams
And five letters mean so much to our self esteem
For others in the struggle the burden may be small
But for my own preference I am sick of it all
My soul is disgruntled and my mind is distorted
Involved in a cause that I never supported
But having graduated I can finally move on
And get a job in the real world where I truly belong
my wounds will soon heal and everything will be cool
for at least now you know the truth about school