Today is the last day of school at Plainview School. One of only a handful of real country schools nationwide, it has been the cornerstone of our community for 90 years. Where so many schools in Oklahoma are failing, ours has been succeeding. High quality education, excellent test scores, and almost no discipline problems are the hallmarks of Plainview Elementary School in Cimarron County, OK.
I saw a news story recently that stated the worst schools in Oklahoma were going to get some millions of dollars in additional funding. Yep. That'll do it.
Our school is closing simply because of corporate greed. JB Swift, the international leviathan-corporation has closed our school.
All of us who love our school are hurting today, and we are trying to be brave. I commend our teachers and staff for making this another happy school year, in spite of the lurking knowledge that this was to be our last.
Please pray for us all today. Please pray especially for my treasured friend Joyce. She has given selflessly to the children of Plainview School for 35 years, & she is still the best teacher I have ever had.
Plainview School 1921-2011
The Last Wolf
ReplyDelete-Mary TallMountain
The last wolf hurried toward me
through the ruined city
and I heard his baying echoes
down the steep smashed warrens
of Montgomery Street and past
the ruby-crowned highrises
left standing
their lighted elevators useless
Passing the flicking red and green
of traffic signals
baying his way eastward
in the mystery of his wild loping gait
closer the sounds in the deadly night
through clutter and rubble of quiet blocks
I hear his voice ascending the hill
and at last his low whine as he came
floor by empty floor to the room
where I sat
in my narrow bed looking west, waiting
I heard him snuffle at the door and
I watched
He trotted across the floor
he laid his long gray muzzle
on the spare white spread
and his eyes burned yellow
his small dotted eyebrows quivered
Yes, I said.
I know what they have done.