While the adults struggle over the future of education in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the students are tested and tested and their voices are seldom heard.
This student’s voice will be heard, thanks to Jonathan Pelto.
The student feels buried in a deep hole while adults keep shoveling dirt on him.
Today is Election Day for the school board in Bridgeport. Time to elect those who extend a helping hand, not a test or a shovel full of dirt.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I hope that this student’s writing is read by not only all Bridgeport residents but by every adult in the nation.
Thank you, Diane, for sharing this very powerful poem that demonstrates how much there is under all of that “dirt.” I agree with Alabama teacher in hoping that many will read and respond in some way to what this student is saying about her experience. This imagery is haunting . . .
Reading that poem made me feel like that student wrote that poem for me – a teacher! I am right in that hole too. I started the second day of school at an SLO training. If you don’t know what an SLO is… neither did I. I got a power point read by a teacher who went to a workshop at the end of last year. I will complete two of these and be held accountable for “objectively measuring” my student’s work based on this SLO… in my case this measuring will involve the creative process. New as well… classroom teachers are co teaching because the county (not known to parents) has eliminated dedicated aides and has segregated classes by ability to learn in the normed way or “the not normed learners”. Teaching an over-sized class of students tagged for the “not normed learners” class for a wide host of reasons is extremely challenging (and when I come in as a specialist it is just me.. no co teaching). I am asked to fill out a goal form and a self assessment form where I rate myself – so I can be held ACCOUNTABLE all year and these forms are done within the first few weeks of school. I am in a hole too and cement is being poured in. I am beginning to feel like a robot who is programmed to destroy the subject area I teach and then self destruct. This is how I and so many fellow teachers feel these days.
Sorry for your situation; best wishes that your year works out.