The Teacher's Argument Lyrics

Miss Bell
Artists are special celestial fools
First with the talent for breaking the rules
Unfit for confinement in cubicle schools
Artists are special

Miss Sherman
Artists are people not primitive fools
They learn what to do before breaking the rules
They know that the brain is the finest of tools
Artists are people

Both
Whether in theatre or music or dance
They have to be given the chance

Miss Bell
To fly by the seat of their pants

Miss Sherman
To develop their minds and be nurtured

Both
Like plants

Miss Sherman
Artists are part of the same human race
As everyone else in the same bloody place
You learn to survive or you fall on your face
Artist or not
Artist or not

Spoken
Greta, you know that 90% of these kids
Will never make a living in the arts
We have to prepare them for life
Or what's tyrone gonna do if he can't make it as a dancer
Mop floors?

Miss Bell
Tyrone will make it

Sung
I've seen them come and go for all these years
Kids with no talent for anything more than carrying spears
Another year another shipment
Lacking the drive or the style or the basic eqipment
This one is different.

And i can see me there unremarkable me
The kid in the ballet class
The princess i wanted to be
Tutu and point shoes
Hair in a bun
Completely unnoticed as if i were no-one

This one is different i tell you
This one can dance
This one is virtual i tell you
Give him a chance

Spoken
Tyrone will make it, he will

Miss Sherman
Fine, and i wish him luck
But this is an academic institution with academic standards
Oh i know,
We're the fame high school now
Ever since that movie came out
They come here expecting to become stars
And you people think you run the show here
Oh teach them to perform and who cares if they can read or write
Who needs to write anyway
As long as they can sign their name on a contract

Miss Bell
And who are you?
Defender of the true faith

Miss Sherman
Exactly!

Sung
What did they tell me when i was a girl
Learn...
Day after day when i was a girl
Learn...
The land of dreams waits over the meadow
If you can find a way
Out of the ghetto
Learn, learn
Put your faith in books
That will protect you
Put your faith in books
And a mind of your own
Neither charm or looks
Will make them respect you
You must learn to stand
You must learn to stand alone

Picture a little girl
In glasses and brace
A little starch dress at the end of the corridor
Shes holding to walk waiting for the bell ring
Parying for the day to end
Forcing herself to go back to her class again
Hearing her mamas words
Put your faith in books

Miss Bell
This one is different

Miss Sherman
Put your faith in books

Miss Bell
This one can dance

Miss Sherman
Put your faith in books

Miss Bell
Artists are special

Miss Sherman
Artists are people

Both
This one must have the chance
This one must have the chance