Symbolism, Imagery, Allegory
Mr. Ward's students don't start out too excited about school. Sure, some of them have dreams and passions, but that doesn't necessarily involve getting an education. Tyrone sums it up nicely:
School ain't nothin' but a joke. My moms don't want to hear that, but if it weren't for Wesley and my other homeys, I wouldn't even be here, aiight? (3.1)
Harsh, Tyrone, harsh.
This sense that school isn't relevant to the students' lives changes thanks to Mr. Ward and his encouragement to write poetry. Through poetry, the kids become engaged and start to realize the value of an education. Tyrone sees his time in English class as a path to his dreams of becoming a songwriter; Lupe decides that going to college is more important than having a baby; Janelle finally understands that her brains matter more than her looks; and Diondra opens up to her family about her dreams of going to art school.
School, for these kids, becomes a beacon of hope instead of something they have to drag themselves through everyday. It's not just another place they go to kill time anymore—doing well in their classes becomes a ticket to a better life. Yay.