We Happy Few, We BASIS Few

[Anonymous]

This day is call’d the Feast of Calculus.
They that outlast this week and finish the Bio project,
Will stand a tip-toe when the AP scores are named,
And rouse them at the name of College Board.
They that shall see this day and live through seventh grade,
Will yearly on the Ides of May strip their sleeves,
And show their scars—“These wounds I had at BASIS.”

Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But they’ll remember with advantages
What they endured that year. Then shall their names—
Familiar in their mouths as household words—
Algebra and Latin, Capstone and Physics,
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb’red.

This story shall the good parent teach their child;
And BASIS DC shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d—
We few, we happy few, we band of strivers;
For they today that endure the Gauntlet with me
Shall be my sibling; be they ever so tired,
This day shall elevate their grit;
And students in other schools now safe in less intensity
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their rigor cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon this BASIS year.

[Anonymous]

stop

[Anonymous]

Well, it's not great poetry, but I certainly applaud the effort. Well done, OP.

I gather BASIS is a school with a certain aura of controversy. No matter. It's the poem that counts.

[Anonymous]

The irony being that Shakespeare isn't taught at BASIS because it doesn't help the investors puff up math test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The irony being that Shakespeare isn't taught at BASIS because it doesn't help the investors puff up math test scores.

OMG just stop. Maybe your kid didn't. 9th graders did this year.

[Anonymous]

Cute. I love the original monologue. Hope you are a kid who loves Shakespeare.

If you're a BASIS parent, eek...

[Anonymous]

When wisdom’s lamp doth brightly blaze with light,
And youthful minds in quest of truth do strive,
There stands a school, a beacon burning bright—
Fair BASIS DC, where thought is kept alive.
No idle hours nor slothful days abide,
But rigorous pursuit of knowledge reigns;
Each scholar, armed with reason as their guide,
Ascends the mount where true ambition gains.

With math and science firm as marble stone,
And arts that stir the soul to higher ground,
Each lesson speaks in firm, relentless tone,
Yet joy in learning richly doth abound.
The teachers, wise, with patient hearts and keen,
Awake in minds the fire yet unseen.

Debate and thought do flourish, bold and free,
Like roots that stretch beneath a stately tree.
No dream too grand, no question deemed too small,
For minds thus trained may rise and grasp it all.
So sing I now, in earnest, true and bold,
Of BASIS DC, more prized than finest gold.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When wisdom’s lamp doth brightly blaze with light,
And youthful minds in quest of truth do strive,
There stands a school, a beacon burning bright—
Fair BASIS DC, where thought is kept alive.
No idle hours nor slothful days abide,
But rigorous pursuit of knowledge reigns;
Each scholar, armed with reason as their guide,
Ascends the mount where true ambition gains.

With math and science firm as marble stone,
And arts that stir the soul to higher ground,
Each lesson speaks in firm, relentless tone,
Yet joy in learning richly doth abound.
The teachers, wise, with patient hearts and keen,
Awake in minds the fire yet unseen.

Debate and thought do flourish, bold and free,
Like roots that stretch beneath a stately tree.
No dream too grand, no question deemed too small,
For minds thus trained may rise and grasp it all.
So sing I now, in earnest, true and bold,
Of BASIS DC, more prized than finest gold.

Bravo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When wisdom’s lamp doth brightly blaze with light,
And youthful minds in quest of truth do strive,
There stands a school, a beacon burning bright—
Fair BASIS DC, where thought is kept alive.
No idle hours nor slothful days abide,
But rigorous pursuit of knowledge reigns;
Each scholar, armed with reason as their guide,
Ascends the mount where true ambition gains.

With math and science firm as marble stone,
And arts that stir the soul to higher ground,
Each lesson speaks in firm, relentless tone,
Yet joy in learning richly doth abound.
The teachers, wise, with patient hearts and keen,
Awake in minds the fire yet unseen.

Debate and thought do flourish, bold and free,
Like roots that stretch beneath a stately tree.
No dream too grand, no question deemed too small,
For minds thus trained may rise and grasp it all.
So sing I now, in earnest, true and bold,
Of BASIS DC, more prized than finest gold.

This feels like someone is struggling with mental illness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When wisdom’s lamp doth brightly blaze with light,
And youthful minds in quest of truth do strive,
There stands a school, a beacon burning bright—
Fair BASIS DC, where thought is kept alive.
No idle hours nor slothful days abide,
But rigorous pursuit of knowledge reigns;
Each scholar, armed with reason as their guide,
Ascends the mount where true ambition gains.

With math and science firm as marble stone,
And arts that stir the soul to higher ground,
Each lesson speaks in firm, relentless tone,
Yet joy in learning richly doth abound.
The teachers, wise, with patient hearts and keen,
Awake in minds the fire yet unseen.

Debate and thought do flourish, bold and free,
Like roots that stretch beneath a stately tree.
No dream too grand, no question deemed too small,
For minds thus trained may rise and grasp it all.
So sing I now, in earnest, true and bold,
Of BASIS DC, more prized than finest gold.

This feels like someone is struggling with mental illness.

People who make fun of nerds should not be anywhere near BASIS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When wisdom’s lamp doth brightly blaze with light,
And youthful minds in quest of truth do strive,
There stands a school, a beacon burning bright—
Fair BASIS DC, where thought is kept alive.
No idle hours nor slothful days abide,
But rigorous pursuit of knowledge reigns;
Each scholar, armed with reason as their guide,
Ascends the mount where true ambition gains.

With math and science firm as marble stone,
And arts that stir the soul to higher ground,
Each lesson speaks in firm, relentless tone,
Yet joy in learning richly doth abound.
The teachers, wise, with patient hearts and keen,
Awake in minds the fire yet unseen.

Debate and thought do flourish, bold and free,
Like roots that stretch beneath a stately tree.
No dream too grand, no question deemed too small,
For minds thus trained may rise and grasp it all.
So sing I now, in earnest, true and bold,
Of BASIS DC, more prized than finest gold.

This feels like someone is struggling with mental illness.

You sound like someone who is mentally challenged.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The irony being that Shakespeare isn't taught at BASIS because it doesn't help the investors puff up math test scores.

There's plenty to criticize about BASIS without resorting to outright falsehoods. Shakespeare is taught in 8th and 9th grades. Maybe others as well; I don't have kids in other grades so I can't say.

[Anonymous]

Wtf is a basis? Basis for what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony being that Shakespeare isn't taught at BASIS because it doesn't help the investors puff up math test scores.

There's plenty to criticize about BASIS without resorting to outright falsehoods. Shakespeare is taught in 8th and 9th grades. Maybe others as well; I don't have kids in other grades so I can't say.

sure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony being that Shakespeare isn't taught at BASIS because it doesn't help the investors puff up math test scores.

There's plenty to criticize about BASIS without resorting to outright falsehoods. Shakespeare is taught in 8th and 9th grades. Maybe others as well; I don't have kids in other grades so I can't say.

+1. Shakespeare is taught in 8th and 9th grades.