Education: The Grand Illusion

Oh, education, our dear old friend,
Your noble promises never seem to end.
You claim to guide us, show us the way,
But do you even know where you’re headed today?

“Diversity!” they cry, in cheerful tones,
Yet communities crumble, breaking bones.
We’re taught to solve problems, to see the whole,
But forget to stitch together the human soul.

“Keep them off screens!” parents are told,
“Don’t let young minds turn soft or cold.”
Yet classes are online, with apps to download,
And projects demand that phones be bestowed.
Teachers wave tech like it’s a holy grail,
While elders frown, “Isn’t that a bit of a fail?”

Exams, they say, are the measure of worth,
A paper crown for proving your birth.
No time for questions, just answers to write,
In the circus of grades, truth takes flight.

Once, we were taught of realms divine,
Where love and mercy were said to shine.
But whispers of kindness now seem to fade,
Replaced by walls that fear has made.

If heaven’s path is paved for all,
Why draw lines that divide and stall?
Do gods, so vast, so wise, so great,
Care for the names through which we relate?
Or is it the folly of minds confined,
Wielding faith to tether and bind?

Tech marches on, relentless and fast,
Robots take over; old jobs don’t last.
Subscriptions stack, wallets grow thin,
A rat race few are destined to win.
“Just learn to adapt!” they blithely say,
But what of those born in a simpler day?

Our grandparents squint at screens with dread,
“Swipe? Click? What’s this?” they’ve often said.
Scammers lurk, confusion grows,
And where to seek help? Nobody knows.
“Oh, just Google it,” the young proclaim,
A phrase to elders both cruel and lame.

Even for those with degrees in hand,
Life’s mysteries don’t quite go as planned.
“Memorize this; you’ll go far,” they said,
While understanding sat lonely, unfed.
Solve for X, substitute, repeat,
But why does X always compete?
Did the rest of the alphabet go on strike,
Or is this a puzzle no one will like?

Questions, it seems, are shooed away,
“Stick to the script!” is the system’s way.
What, why, and how dare not intrude,
On the rigid lessons we’re forced to include.

And what of life’s practical gears?
Balancing money, confronting fears?
History sang of wars and fame,
But where’s the chapter on managing blame?
How to earn, save, and keep afloat,
Instead of clinging to a sinking boat?

Moral lessons? Oh, they tried their best,
But bullies thrive while the kind are stressed.
Respect and justice, left off the page,
Lost in the rush to meet the wage.

Health? Well, we’ve PT class, that’s the key!
Run a lap, do some stretches; then you’re free.
Forget about food or minds in despair,
Mental health? Oh, we’re not quite there.

The planet’s dying – sure, take a note,
Recycling bins will keep us afloat!
Skills to create? To question? To lead?
No time for that – we’ve numbers to heed.

At last, we ask; what’s your grand design?
Degrees and debt, but no peace of mind.
If we can’t sit still and silence the din,
Tell me, where does true learning begin?

So here we stand, confused yet wise,
Caught in a system we now despise.
Oh, education, you’re a tragic delight,
Both guiding the lost and losing the fight.

Perhaps one day, you’ll heal your flaws,
And inspire a world with worthier cause.