So, I was talking to my son's teacher the other day.....

[demgurl]

I have been very quiet around her because I was not sure where she stood but I suspected we were not in line with each other.

Back in September I thought I had my first clue when I was taking my sons to DC for the big protest. Our other son's teacher excitedly bounded up to this one stating how cool it was that we were taking our sons up to DC for a war protest. This teacher smiled slightly and honestly looked as if she were biting her tongue.

Life went on and I never mentioned politics once. I volunteer a lot and I happened to be there during kindergarten nap time to help with paperwork. The room was dark and we quietly worked next to each other. At one point she leaned over and whispered that she really does not know a lot about politics and hardly even follows it. She freely admitted she knew she should but she does not. Then she confided that the more she finds out about this administration, the more she doesn't like them.

She left me hanging, wondering which issue/issues made her feel this way. I finally could not contain my curiosity and took my best stab at it. "This is about the war in Iraq?" (I usually call it the illegal occupation but felt I needed a more gentle touch in this situation) She answered no but told me it had to do with the 'No Child Left Behind' program. She talked about all the testing of teachers and how it is ruining our schools and it would specifically drive good teachers away -the teachers who really care.

I wish I had had more time before the kids had to wake up and go home but I did tell her that if she knew the whole story of this government then she would be truly upset.

I guess the point is that even people who do not pay much attention are waking up and seeing the light. We just never know who is on our side or who might cross over to our side. Don't ever give up because more and more people are beginning to see the light.

[Sydnie]

1. Invite her out for lunch on a Saturday. Take the time to help her

open her eyes. She will appreciate the effort, the ear you will lend her, and she will talk to others that are closed off like herself too.

Each one teach one.

Good on you for volunteering and for having a gentle hand too. :hug:

[demgurl]

4. I may ask her out when school ends...

a little over two months to go at this point. I feel weird starting any sort of quasi personal relationship when she is grading my son. I will make a point to do this though. We get along well especially since she lost her teaching assistant and I have been filling in until she gets a new one. (hopefully next week)

The school actually requires parents to volunteer but I love it. My kids always ask when will be the next time I come in and I truly love being around their class. I am way over my required volunteer hours and will continue to accumulate volunteer time as long as they want/need me. I feel even closer being in class with my kids and it is fun to boot.

Thank you for your kind words.

[jedr]

2. Many of the teachers in my sons school are Repubs;

Could never figure it out. repubs are anti- union, anti- pension, anti public education, anti science,plus no child left behind. Is teaching school in a Church basement for 25k/yr with no benefits better than what they have?:wtf:

[demgurl]

5. It is sad how much they vote aginst their own interests.

Something I will never understand.

[wtbymark]

3. well, I'll say it again....

By the year 2012, NOT ONE school in the US will pass the requirements for federal funding. NCLB is the death of public education. They set it up so it would be impossible. If you're a school, you have to increase your test scores by 3% per year - PERIOD. You've reached 100% of every student on every test, plus a 97% attendance rate? You have to increase that 100% by 3% the following year or lose your federal money. That's part of their PNAC plan to destroy public education.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. "All politics is local" Truth is that....

very few people either care about or have the time to deal with the big issues that don't directly concern them. I wouldn't overwhelm her with the usual horror stories and talking points right now-- she's just sticking a toes in the water and we don't want to scare her off. One or two relevant sins of the administration would do as a start.

So, here we have someone who has been uninvolved until her own world has been turned upside down by Shrub & Co. Tiny steps like this take place all over the country, and do lead to change.

When I read stuff like this, why does "There are 8 million stories in the naked city" stick in my mind.