OurFutures Incoporated
Location
Hello, My name is 3.86
Hello, My name is 30
Hello, My name is 1940
Hello, My name is 1620
I am not a number
And if you tell me I am well here’s what I think
I am not a number I am a person
A person a person
And no number will define me
Have you seen what I have seen
My generation is faceless
My generation is a statistic
And it’s because of this:
Corporations decide our future
OurFutures Incorporated
They take our money to take their tests
They take our names to take their tests
They take our dignity to take their tests
And when we sit down for that exam
And every moment after
Our only means of identification
Are a few numbers
How can love
Compassion
Kindess
Be measured with a test score
Be measured in one Saturday morning
Because I don’t know about you
But my scores sure as hell didn’t measure that
Those of us who strive in creativity
In optimism
In sensitivity
In determination
Are considered Failures
Because our numbers don’t hit a certain bar
Because God gave us a gift
That doesn’t measure up to the standards
of OurFutures, inc.
Because the adults of today
The so called leaders
Protectors
The ones who are supposed to nurture us
Have decided
That our worth
Should be determined
By numbers
First graders are losing recess
Fifth graders are learning calculus
Kids like me are pumped with
Xanax
Prozac
Riddlin
Just to make it through a day
Because OurFutures incorporated
Is a dictator of education
Because a company of people
Who have not taught a day in their life
Have been given free reign
Over our education
To the point where daily curriculum
Is centered
Around a standardized test
And now our minds
Have been melted
And re-shaped into a standardized mold
What we are being told
Is to exchange our soul for a 36
Our conscience a 2400
Give up our spirit
Sacrifice our passion
Destroy our love for learning
For high scores
We have lost ourselves
Helly, my name is Monica
I am a person
I am not a number