THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL (poem)

Merton Pajibo
1 min readJul 7, 2024

--

In the classroom of high school students,
Here are the do’s and don’ts to abide by.

Do engage them with lessons that inspire,
Captivate their minds with knowledge that’s prior.
Encourage their curiosity to grow,
Nurture their thirst for learning to flow.

Don’t belittle their thoughts or ideas,
Respect their opinions and fears.
Don’t yell or berate, keep calm and composed,
Show empathy and understanding, let them feel enclosed.

Do create a safe and welcoming space,
Where every student feels they have a place.
Encourage collaboration and teamwork,
Building relationships that will surely work.

Don’t ignore the signs of struggle or distress,
Offer support and guidance, show them kindness.
Don’t grade with bias or prejudice,
Treat each student equally, with fairness and justice.

Teaching high school is a challenging role,
But with love and passion, you’ll reach every goal.
So remember the do’s and don’ts of your craft,
And watch your students thrive and laugh.

--

--

Merton Pajibo

Merton Pajibo, is an American Liberian poet, Chemistry/Physics Teacher, Research Chemist, Basketball Coach and US Marine Corp Veteran.