HEAD TEACHER “Head Teacher looms large!
What? Ask the kids?
But I’m in charge!”
WITNESS No school office, no school bench
No more squirming on top of the fence
No air of grief, no sense of loss,
No more staring down at the kids we’ve lost
No age creeping, no falling asleeping
No slow death watching every move they’re making
CHORUS So prego, ciao, bella e grazie
La Cita Reggio mi piace!
WITNESS No a b c, no me, me, me
No infantilising patronising health and safety
No god almighty fuss, no lack of trust
No cramming it all in till their fit to bust
No going it alone, no give a dog a bone
No fearing for the time when they’re dragged back home
CHORUS So prego, ciao, bella e grazie
La Cita Reggio mi piace!
HEAD TEACHER Head teacher quizzes rhetorical
The name of that plant?
Ask the kids, I’m not biological!
WITNESS So say yes to faith and say yes to grace
Say yes to the schools who lift up their face
From the noise and the groans and the plastic clutter
From the foundation stage and its bottled up rage
with the boxes that need ticking
And the arses that need licking
And the plans that need writing
And the staff that need biting
From the anaesthetic disconnected
Analytic tautologic lack of reciprocity
with its smack of weak authority
And howl of wolves who want to scratch down our doors….
HEAD TEACHER “Head Teacher looms large!
What? Ask the kids?
But I’m in charge!”
CHORUS So prego, ciao, bella e grazie (x3)
La Cita Reggio mi piace!
Performed by the Reggio Maniacs in homage to the inspirational children, parents, teachers and communities of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Accompanying video available upon request 🙂
drnickombe 