Analyzing the poem "Students" by Tom Wayman

The Poem, "Students," by Tom Wayman talks about four theories of learning. The first theory presented in this poem is, "The Vaccination Theory of Education," (line 12). This theory speaks about students who feel that once they have completed a subject, they never have to look at it again. Students who fall into this category develop a sense of immunity once they have written a test on a particular unit of a subject. Unfortunately these students …

…questioned by their teachers, the "Easy Listening Student" will assure them that they are listening to everything that is being taught. As to whether or not those students are telling the truth, only their grades and knowledge will tell. The main message that the speaker is trying to send is that of "lifelong that to learning": that results and marks should not be the main focus of a student but rather the learning process itself.