I SAW THIS POEM ON A SITE ONE DAY AND IT HIT A SPOT THAT MADE ME THINK HARD ABOUT EVERY CHILD. THERE MAY BE A REASON THAT THEY ACT OUT IN CLASS OR DON’T PARTICIPATE AT ALL. AS TEACHERS I BELIEVE IT’S OUR JOB TO UNDERSTAND AND TALK TO THEM AND NOT PUNISH FOR THINGS THAT MAY BE OUT OF THEIR CONTROL. 

Cause I Ain’t Got a Pencil

I woke myself up

Because we ain’t got an alarm clock.

Dug in the dirty clothes basket,

Cause ain’t nobody washed my uniform.

Brushed my hair and teeth in the dark,

Cause the lights ain’t on.

Even got my baby sister ready,

Cause my mama wasn’t home.

Got us both to school on time,

To eat us a good breakfast.

Then when I got to class the teacher fussed

CAUSE I AIN’T GOT NO PENCIL

– Joshua T. Dickerson

https://www.protectivebehaviours.org/protective-behaviours-resources-training-room/poems/130-cause-i-aint-got-a-pencil