First Grade – Standing in the Hall
Some of us may have experienced learning problems and school punishments similar to those encountered by the boy in the poem. Some find Savageau message for respect of students of all backgrounds and abilities very moving. The poem even stimulates discussion about educational issues including literacy, oral versus written traditions, bilingual education,, minority students, learning problems and disabilities, student punishment, and ways that student learn and fail to learn.
 The boy in the first grade cannot read. That is why teacher has punished him. The teacher has asked him to stand up in the hall. The boy can repeat all the letters in the singing voice. He also knows the shapes of letters. He also knows that there are stories in the books, which are as if his grandmother told him. Now she is in the hospital. He thinks that she may be sleeping there. He does not know that when she will come home.
He enjoys the stories told by his grandmother. He does not get anything from the books. They call him stupid because they think that he will never become better. Now he is crying and just waiting when the punishment will end. It ends when principal sees him, or if the bells rings or if the teacher calls him inside.

He will stops crying if nobody comes there. He will enjoy himself. He will look at the spider outside making web in the windows. He will see the yellow leaves due to the hot sun. He has the talent of singing. When he is alone and when he is happy, he begins to sings. Even his teacher cannot stop his song.