I did the following as an individual poet; not as an employee of anyone. So if you don’t approve of what I’m about to describe, don’t complain to Springfield School District 186 Superintendentr Dr. Milton. If you do approve, please let him know.
Last week, for the first time in eight years I’ve been substitute teaching, I was invited to come to a school classroom to talk about Vachel Lindsay and recite his poems. I had encoutered Miss Beard at the end of a busy day at a major east side middle school, told her about my Vachel Pages web site, shared my interest in visiting classes to share my understanding of the man, and she invited me to come to her class.
I arrived about 11:45 today, dressed in my “uniform” of red shirt, white slacks that signify Vachel’s poem The Wedding of the Rose and Lotus (look it up; it’s a good one) and my “amazing technicolor sport coat,” the same one I wore every Wednesday at Capitol Caffee when I emceed the open mic there. I wear this combination only when I’m reciting poetry for recompense. I had been promised lunch, and that was all I expected.
Miss Beard had worked with her students getting ready for my arrival. They had visited another Vachel poems web site, and copied poems they liked to share with her and to read today. What a terrific idea. The students knew more about Vachel when I arrived than most Springfieldians — dare I suggest most Central Illinoisans and worse, most Central Illinois COLLEGE students! — know in their lifetimes. Nice going, Miss Beard and students! We decided there would be time after my presentation for students to share their poems at the front of the room after I did my thing.
What did I recite? The Little Turtle, Some Balloons Grow on Trees, The Broncho That Would Not Be Broken of Dancing, Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight, The Potatoes Dance, When Gassy Thompson Struck It Rich, Niagara (in celebration of Earth Day, of course) The Lion, and The Mouse that Gnawed the Oak Tree Down. Looking back, Niagra was the only one that was a little too old for them. The students were letter perfectly quiet and attentive. (Why aren’t they like that when I’m a guest teacher? Must have been the sport coat! 
)
We also talked about Vachel’s life, I suggested the students visit his house, on Fifth Street, next door to where the govorner used to live, and to visit my Vachel Pages web site. Miss Beard reminded the students to speak clearly, read their Vachel poems with expression and enthusiasm, and four students did just that. It was great to see them focus on the poet and poetry.
When it was time to go — the lunch bell for the class was about to ring, I was offered the choice of eating lunch in the cafeteria or simply taking some cash, and I took the cash. And I thanked Miss Beard and her fine class for inviting me over. I was tempted to stop by McDonalds and make quick work of most of the cash, but I decided to splurge instead with lunch meat sandwiches and iced tea at home. I can better spend my honorarium at the grocery store later this week.
On my way out the door, I stopped by the school office and told the fine office manager/receptioninst that I had just made my first poetry presentation to a Springfield school, that I would be delighted to let my blog readers know it was done at Washington Middle through the initiative, good taste and courtesy of Miss Beard.
And now I have.
Live long . . . . . and proper.
Great work you’re doing with local students. And a big hurrah to Miss Beard, too. I was just this very day contemplating the problem of the lack of local history and literature we are taught in our school systems. I’ve been delving deep into Central Illinois history, and most of what I’ve discovered I did not learn in school. I would have loved to learn more about Vachel Lindsay and Edgar Lee Masters when I was in school. And why not? They were great American poets, AND they were local. In fact, I don’t remember ever being taught a single line of Lindsay or Masters in school. It’s a shame.
I’m so glad this work is being done. Thanks, Job.
John