The Expert

The Expert

Be an expert in these areas

Show them all what’s right—

If they claim and show alarm,

Brush their concerns out of sight.

Train them in the way they should go,

And the difference from right and wrong.

Show to them how to make good decisions

Through the media and their songs.

And what of the one who disagrees?

The girl with her hand always up?

Override all her thoughts,

And if all else fail tell her to “shut up.”

“But sir”, I ask, not wishing to offend,

“If my viewpoints always win—

Though hers be equally strong

Do I convey that I’m only right,

-- and hers are but a sin?”

In silent disbelief I stared ,

As he began laughing at me—

Did he think it foolishness

This thought that I conceived?

“I once thought the way you do," began he

"Actually it wasn’t so long;

But once you begin doubting yourself—

Then everything will go wrong.

So take it all in at once,

And even if you’re wrong—

It’s better to appear half-right,

Than someone who’s not strong.”

“I cannot do that!” I said aloud—

Convinced this was my case,

"And become a wretched hypocrisy,

And her confidence to erase.

Nor will I stunt her ingenuity,

And the cleverness of her opposition—

I’d rather be dismissed at once

Than to stunt the growth of cognition."

“Than you will be a sad man

As your power is overtly usurped

She may have her fame and fortune,

While you’ll be lucky to make an excerpt.”

“I know what it is that I risking,

And the authority that might go missing,

But don’t be surprised when you find,

That I helped develop, the next wonderful mind.”

By Greg Butz

May 13, 2009

As a teacher sometimes you encounter students who know more than you. Not in all subjects, just typically in the history of Canada. While very knowledgeable in many areas of social studies and history, I sometimes don’t know the small background details – this poem was a reaction to it. I may not know it all – but I’m happy to admit this, I hope that this has helped develop, the next “wonderful mind.”