Teacher, teacher, do what you can
To teach your children all the knowledge of man,
Teach them how to think and how to survive
A world that eats the soul and body alive.
Teacher, teacher, you know what they face,
A sea of bigotry for age, sex, or race,
Or any other cause thats useful this year.
Try to warn the children while theyre still safe in here.
Teacher, teacher, the hole waits outside,
To turn your children into tools for his pride.
Hes always scratchin for a way to come in.
Here comes a pressure group, hes tryin again.
Teacher, teacher, you know youre alone.
Youre boss wont save your skin hes saving his own.
Nor will the parents help theyll only condemn.
They want their children taught to be just like them.
Here comes the beaurocrat with fifty more rules
To tie your hands and take more bread from the schools.
Here comes the preacher tryin hard to get in.
He wants all children taught his pet brand of sin.
Here comes the government with plenty to say.
It wants your children taught to serve and obey.
Here comes the school board, and thats worst of all,
They want the teachers taught to cave in and fall.
Teacher, teacher, you know what youll find.
They want their thumbprints stamped on everyones mind.
The kids suspect it and resent it like hell,
And all too often theyll suspect you as well.
Teacher, teacher, tell me how can you teach
When all the grownups only want you to preach?
How can you teach the kids to think for themselves
With all the censors stealing books off of shelves?
musical interlude
Teacher guarding the dwindling flame,
How many of your kids have beaten the game?
The wind is rising and the nights falling fast.
Will you run, save yourself, or fight to the last