Student Government Day in Boston was an interesting break in the routine and like all breaks in the routine -- trips away from school during a typically busy week -- it meant making a conscious choice about whether the cost in terms of work missed and impact on the kids would be worth it. Fortunately for me, I had the advantage of having alternately the acting department head and another Social Studies teacher available to take take my classes that day. This meant that real work could get done in the class and that the kids wouldn't even be uprooted from the regular classroom and shuttled off to the cafeteria or library to do what I'd left for them.
I met two boys at the local commuter rail station, all three of us in suits as requested/strongly suggested by the literature and we took the train into Boston. The boys were both juniors and had been elected by their peers to participate in the day. I knew one of them from a different extra-curricular activity, and the other I'd seen around, but had never really talked to before. I felt very privileged to be able to spend some time with students outside of school -- something I had done on my trip to China two years previous. I think it is good for both the kids and the adults as it allows us to see each other as people in the real world rather than the school world where we default -- appropriately enough -- to roles magnified by that structured setting.
We were early and the boy who was not the alternate got to sit on the panel at the front where students had the opportunity to question their peers as they presented their views.Our "alternate"was relegated to sit in the back with teachers and other alternates, at least initially. He was disappointed at first, although to his immense credit made the best of it, and as we waited for the day to begin he and I talked about everything from music to colleges to local politics to the value of school. He was a self-proclaimed "science guy" and really didn't understand too much about how the government worked. I appreciated that he just frankly asked questions throughout the day about the House and Senate, what people were complaining about with regard to the governor, etc. He also was very interested in how hard it was for teachers to keep their personal opinions out of Social Studies classes (it isn't) and how we managed our own social issues in school. I navigated all of this without giving too much away I don't think, but both boys seemed to gain a greater understanding that there are all kinds of teachers because in our school, the teachers are represented by SO many different types of people with regard to social class, background, race, sexual orientation, family life and the like. Plus teaching styles, personal interests and skills and life pre-teaching. And everything else. I think this is important information for students because it is too easy to objectify adults, to objectify teachers, and the mutual respect that needs to support the work done in public schools can be built around this sort of greater understanding. And the flip side of this, is when you as a teacher have a chance to spend some time talking to students -- and just as importantly listening to them -- you learn about them as well, further breaking down that objectification trap. Negotiating the boundaries is an interesting exercise, and one one the adult needs to careful manage, I think, but it is possible to have real conversations with adolescents and still remain "professional".
Students had prepared remarks for and against two real bills pending before the House: one about banning texting while driving and the other about funding a study that would examine school start times and the impact on learning in the Commonwealth.These bills were incredibly relevant not only for the Commonwealth but to these teenagers as well; it was a great example of how the day really was for the students. The "alternate", took full advantage of his opportunity to be heard, and managed to speak out both during the committee stage of the proceedings and when he got out onto the House floor. It was impressive. Without the arrogance that some of his at-times entitled peers assume, he just decided to make the best out of the day, and take his prepared comments forward. There were many kids from schools across the state-- both boys and girls -- who did speak up, some of them more polished than others, but all of them sincere and quite passionate.
The State House itself is an impressive building with all of its marble and polished tile and I found myself thinking about all of the famous politicians and historical figures who had been in there. Keynote speaker for the day was Attorney General Martha Coakley who was warmly applauded despite her recent loss in the Senate race. She gave an articulate non-partisan speech about the importance of participating in our democracy even though it is an imperfect system. The theme really centered around the importance of effort and participation and she told an old story about a boy who was rescuing starfish one by one who'd beached themselves by the ocean. When a friend suggested that it might not be worth it because he was only saving a few, the other boy responded that it mattered to those starfish he could get to. Later, a boy who was arguing about the need for legislation against texting while driving quoted Coakley saying that the lives that were saved by the legislation were worth it even if there were only a few of them. A great moment for that boy and a great example for Coakley; at least one student heard her.
"Only" two kids from school got to go to Student Government Day; I know for sure it was a special day for at least one of them. And me. Two maybe three more starfish. So, yes, the right choice.
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