My heart breaks. 

For the students... the children...

Who aren't allowed to be kids.

Who are never allowed to feel good about what they can do... who aren't even given the chance to view themselves as capable of 'doing'.

My mind is consumed with thoughts about the students... all the time. 

I want to press pause on the world.  I want to shout out "LET THEM BE CHILDREN!!"

My heart aches for the kids, who never get to play. 

For the 4th grader, still at school at 5pm, doing test-prep at extended day.  

I want to shield him from the teacher who makes him feel about 2 inches tall

Who allows him to be pushed down then yells when he falls.

I want to yell at the principal who has sucked the life out of her teachers
TIll I realize she too has been possessed by some sort of sole-sucking creatures.