A man severe he was, and stern to view; I knew him well, and every truant knew: Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face; Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee, At all his jokes, for many a joke had he; Full well the bust whisper, circling round, Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned; Yet he was kind; or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault; The village all declared how much he knew; 'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too.

Even children followed with endearing wile, And plucked his gown, to share the good man's smile.

In arguing too, the parson owned his skill, For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still; While words of learned length, and thundering sound Amazed the ga…

Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway, And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.

However, during the third class he'd finally had enough. 'Anne Frank, as punishment for talking in class, write an essay entitled, Quack, Quack, Quack, Said Mi…

I have a lot of respect for tough coaches.

Teaching is not a lost art, but the regard for it is a lost tradition.