Sitting in the airport, waiting for my plane to Manchester, on my way for a quick trip home (I know, the US has been my home since 1989, but....), and I'm meandering around and thought I'd take a moment to blog top of mind stuff. No plan. I'm not sure where I am going with this. But my immediate thinking was how nice it will be to be somewhere with no political signs.
I'm not going to lie, the election cycle was filled with so much joy until election day, and I am still struggling to come back from the realization that my bubble was well and truly popped. I'd experienced. such joy sign-waving and connecting with like-minded people. I met the school board candidates with education experience who were ready to support me and my kids. I saw the policies out there that would help so many people - and the opposite which would hurt us all. And then it was election day...and night...and the news was rolling in.
I was living in luxury at the time, in a very expensive hotel room while at GaETC (conference). I had to present the next day, and I knew that I had to go to sleep.
I woke up at 4:30am and had to look. All I had to do was open my Her Game Too WhatsApp chat to see my British friends up and about, horrified at the results. Checking in on me. Worried about Gaza, Taiwan, and the world. I lay there I disbelief. The school board results showed that the two candidates running on Project 2025 (that includes dismantling the BOE), one of whom is known to be in support of limiting access to books, had stomped to victory. What was going to happen to our country? What was going to happen to our schools?
My presentation was OK, but there was a lot less positive energy than I normally bring. And I saw much of the shock and sadness reflected on my peers' faces. But I was so thankful not to be at school, facing educators who I knew would be thrilled with the results - and I still can't understand that.
Now, I know that educators are supposed to stay tight-lipped about politics and beliefs. And Georgia is a 'right-to-work' state, meaning we have no union support. But I tend to feel that around where I live, that's only if you have democratic beliefs, but perhaps I am wrong. Those days when we could have a healthy debate in the classroom and discuss opinions are long gone. Don't get me wrong, I quite agree that teachers shouldn't sway opinion - but surely we should encourage discussion? How can you teach history without a connection being made between certain policies and fascism? How can you stop bright children from noticing that pretty much every statistic is better in Democratic-run states? How can you create critical thinking if you aren't allowed to push students to think critically?
Of course, my daughter does say that she was Republican like her parents (classic Army family, following the crowd. We eventually learned better. Basically we were living the lives and thinking of Democrats while voting Republican out of habit) until she took a 'beliefs' test in civics. She found she staunchly believed everything on the Democrat platform. So maybe they aren't crazy to desire the end of political discourse and teaching in school. After all, supporting community and freedom, giving all people the same rights - if you hear THAT side of the story, surely you are going to question taking away support from those in need? Surely you are going to question losing programs that help kids? To be honest, I worry far more about parents, social media, and 'news' channels creating echo chambers. Isn't school the perfect great equalizer where we can actually study, compare, and think about our own beliefs?
Obviously, that will never happen. Just like we won't have truth guardrails on the news as other countries do.
And now I need to worry about my library. Our books. My students' freedom to read. Our newly formed Pride Club. One of the best teachers in the school happens to be gay and is wondering if she is safe in our county.
This is all so wrong.
I know that I have a week ahead of me where friends and family will share their shock and their pity. And I will be able to talk freely about my fears and concerns.
I just hope that innate goodness will overcome what I fear. I'm at a wonderful school with an amazing and supportive principal. As long as he is in situ, I know that I will be heard and our library protected.
Next blog, I'll up the positives. But right now, I'm out of the country, and I'm allowing myself a bit of a pity party before having a good time with my friends and my football!
Roll on the good times as I prep for what may lay ahead.
