by Cheryl Batavia

The Egg & Antipoverty

Photo by Tengyart from Unsplash.

A “news junkie” I am not…well, not quite. I do follow the news on a regular basis because I believe democracy depends on informed citizens.

Recently, I watched a documentary about US President, Lyndon B. Johnson. I was unfamiliar with the unflattering stories that had circulated about his political career. As I watched, I remembered learning about the “Great Society” and the “War on Poverty” initiatives that marked his presidency.

As a sixteen-year-old girl with no TV and no newspaper at home, I just knew that Johnson’s “Great Society”sounded great to me! I probably learned about the “War on Poverty” from reading Life Magazine in the school library. The poem I wrote may have been inspired by a photo in that magazine…I can’t quite remember.

The Egg & Antipoverty

A child sits on broken, creaking stairs

eating an egg,

a child who needs more new life

than an egg.

Today, I am alarmed as I watch news about book-banning and political censorship of curriculums, even at the college level, in my state of Florida and in several other states. Teachers are leaving the profession because of restrictions imposed on them, and there is a growing teacher shortage in Florida.

A knowledge of history and science is essential in a democracy, in spite of the desires of some politicians to sweep inconvenient facts and ideas under a rug. Yes, today’s students need more new life than an egg! Curriculum should be age-appropriate, but access to, and free discussion of, information and ideas is crucial to developing independent thought. Education is the birthright of all students in a democracy! “Knowledge is Power.”

Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia

47 Comments

  1. Unknown's avatar

    here, here … I totally agree!

    Drastic censorship, whitewashing of massacres, and too many other distortions are purely indoctrination … not a lot better than the bs russia has published in their text books for the reasons of war in Ukraine. Regurgitating distorted facts is NOT education, ed is about opening minds, encouraging broader discussions and learning ….

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  6. Unknown's avatar

    Sorry to hear about it. May people protest and things become better. It feels bad but the people who are ruling the nations are ruining our lives. Hope is alive.

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        Politics is man made and humans are greedy. So yes, politics is disconcerting, and it might tear apart the planet as well. Sadly.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Unknown's avatar

    I totally agree with Kate’s comments, and I agree with Layla’s praise of your thought-evoking poem … 🤗😍🌏 … i’m struggling with my computer … it’s seem to be heading for a nervous breakdown … time to take it apart and give it a good clean out …

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  13. Unknown's avatar

    Thank you for speaking out about this, Cheryl. Yes, books need to be age appropriate. That they are banning books at the high school and college level is especially scary. Your high school poem is insightful and beautiful. I wonder if teachers who leave public schools can teach with fewer restrictions in private schools. Maybe people will come together to create schools with more freedom and diversity. I bet there are plenty more people in Florida who believe as you do. North Carolina “elected officials” can be backward too.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Joanna, for your thoughtful, insightful comment! I taught in public schools, a private school, and a charter school. It was a very interesting career! The charter school and the private school paid less but gave teachers more freedom. Gradually, the state imposed more restrictions there too. I don’t think I would want to teach in the current situation in Florida.

      Have a lovely weekend! ❤ ❤ ❤

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  17. Unknown's avatar

    Short, but meaningful poem.. I agree with you, Cheryl. The problem is that history itself has been distorted to suit the narratives of rulers. But I think if a book is banned, it gains more popularity.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment, KK. It is true that history is distorted by politics.

      In the case of Florida, banning books in public libraries and schools is revisionist history. Students cannot learn the truth about the horrors of slavery in the US. They are even being taught that slavery was beneficial to slaves. A history of lynchings, segregation, discrimination, and the civil rights movement is being censored. Issues of race and racism are banned from discussion in the classroom. Another taboo issue is the civil rights of homosexuals.

      You may be right about the popularity of banned books. KK. I do notice more programming about these topics on TV and YouTube.

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        Thank you, Cheryl, for additional inputs. It’s a shame that slavery is being glorified, but who are behind such regressive steps? I understand N word has been a taboo in America.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Serena, for sharing your perspective on this issue. I totally agree with you, and I believe that this is an international trend that goes along with greater wealth disparity and a shrinking middle class. The intention is to keep people down. You know the old saying, “Knowledge is power!”

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Shabnam, for your thoughtful comment. ❤ I am sorry that your community is not immune to the "dumbing down" of education and the censorship that we are experiencing here in Florida. I will vote against those who support these policies!

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