Reading term paper proposals

My brain with rough thoughts is filling
Of students both stubborn and willing;
And how many ways
In these gentle days
I can get them to think without killing.

I read their ideas for term papers,
Am surprised by none of their capers;
For though hard they try,
I understand just why
The fire isn't lit by their tapers.

My forehead shapes into a frown,
They can't tell a verb from a noun.
As my head I shake
At another mistake,
I think about getting out of town.

This comment, I fear, is quite terse,
This isn't a fit subject for verse;
But, what the hell,
I might just as well
Be glad that they aren't even worse.