The Politics of Dancing

A couple years ago, Sergei and I attended a fundraiser where former President Bill Clinton spoke. (Okay, he really is handsome and sexy. I can solidly admit that. And one hell of a great speaker.)

Bill said something that stuck with me. He said, "Sometimes the things you want for your kids can only be gotten through politics."

I'm finding out that he's right.

I hate politics. I think it's insane that people can be driven apart by slight differences in what they believe. Are you against a woman deciding what's best for her, or are you...yourself...against abortion but okay if someone else does it...or do you believe a woman is smart enough to know what's best for her.

Yeah. All that stuff.

I thought that politics were strictly in the News, ya know, the political world, the stuff 'Out There' that we're bombarded with on a daily basis, that makes our laws and restricts us and watches our every move.

But I'm finding out it's more widespread than that.

It's in our schools.

And I don't mean that Republicans and Democrats and Independents and Socialists are IN our schools trying to recruit.

I mean some teachers are evil and selfish and try to sway public opinion in a way that totally and completely ignores one thing...We need to do what's best for our kids.

Today I found out that a teacher at my son's school filed a grievance against the principal. Why? Because he's been out sick for a week with an infection. That's it. She doesn't like him to begin with, he's an old hippie who believes in full-day kindergarten and celebrating cultures of other lands, and taking the overflow from a 3rd and 4th grade class and making one 3/4 mixed class, and while gearing up for the standard state assessment tests, he's still concerned enough to allow field trips and classroom special events. He's a great guy, and I support him.

But this teacher.

This bitch.

She hates that he likes all those things. She wants programs cut to give her more money for her classroom. She hates that we have international students (we're in a fucking COLLEGE TOWN, bitch, you should celebrate that instead of loathing it). She comes off as all nice and sweet to the casual observer, but the more you know her, the more you see her bitter side. It ain't pretty.

So here's where the politics lies.

Unfortunately, there are more teachers like her.

Which pisses me off. But gives me a challenge. I just need to find the right way.

This group of parents I'm with, those of us who fought to keep programs, we're trying to figure out how to create change from within. It's not so much the school board or the superintendant, it's the teachers and principals who are living in the 1950s and cannot see the big picture. Who throw in vague terms like "lower class size" without defining exactly what that means...how many kids exactly? They won't say, because it's their crutch.

Have any of you fought a school, fought how teachers rely on past experience and not future growth? Can you give me any suggestions on how to change the winds? 'Cause politics is hard work, and I'd rather go in there with spreadsheets and proof than yelling, "You fucking bitch cunt!"

Sometimes the things we want for our kids....