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Why Johnny Can't Stay in School

from More Than A Number: Songs for Sane Schools by Barry Lane

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Why can't Johnny Stay in School?

lyrics

When Johnny Drops out of School

When Johnny drops out of school again
we’ll know, we’ll know.

When Johnny drops out of school again
we’ll know, we’ll know.

He didn’t learn to be engaged,
but answered the questions
on every page,

‘cause its drill kill ,
bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school,


The education reformers
they know, they know,
that learning must be monitored,
for show, for show.

So they make a test
for everyday
and ignore research of
Jean Piaget

then its drill kill , bubble fill
till Johnny drops out of school

The publishing conglomerates,
they know they know,
products sold to failing schools
make dough, make dough!

So they make the tests
to help them fail,
then create programs
to close the sale.,

then its drill kill bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of schools

The school Superintendents
they know, they know,
all the things that bubble tests
don’t show, don’t show,

So they study a book by Daniel Pink
and worry that students
don’t know how to think,

then they drill kill, bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school.

The governmental leaders they
don’t know, don’t know
Learning is a joyful seed
we sow, we sow,

So they measure teachers by a test
and make fearful schools
that have no rest,

then they drill kill bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school.

When lobbyists write policy
Who rules, who rules?
the companies who want to own
our Schools, our Schools!

So they make a new law we can’t ignore
and watch their corporate profits soar.

and its drill kill bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school

When will the parents take a stand
to show , to show,
our children are not specimens
to grow, to grow.

If we want our schools
to be the best
we must not
let them teach to tests,

and do drill kill bubble fill
till Johnny drops out of school.


When Johnny drops out of school again
we’ll know, we’ll know

It isn’t the public schools who are
our foes , our foes!
If we want to save democracy,
we must speak truth to powers that be,

and not drill kill ,bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school.


and not drill kill ,bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school.


and not drill kill ,bubble fill,
till Johnny drops out of school.









Music: anonymous
words copyright Barry Lane 2012

credits

from More Than A Number: Songs for Sane Schools, released May 12, 2013
Words by Barry Lane. Music traditional.

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all rights reserved

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Barry Lane image

Barry Lane Vermont

I write songs about kindness for children and songs about hope and justice for adults.

I love Pete Seeger, and believe, as he did, that a single song can help change the world by uniting hearts and minds.


We are the mixed fruit of one tree,

Live in peace and unity.

Forget the old
embrace the new,

Less me, me, me,
more

You, you, you.

For now is the New Day. ... more

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