The Day After

After all the speeches, campaigning, advertisements, and balloting I would have to say that I am glad the elections are over. Yes, like every other American was excited at the historic potential that both sides brought to the table. On one hand we had a chance at the first ever female Vice President, and on the other hand we had a chance for the first ever African Amercian President. To the Obama and Biden famiy I would have to say Congratulations. I am excited to see what the next 4 years will bring. But, as for as our schools, communities, and society goes I hope that we can except the fact of who the 44th President is and move on. All week at my elementary school I was proud to hear all the little 2, 3, and 4 th graders walking around aware of the election and know who was actually running and knowing at least one thing thatthey were running for. I found it encouraging that the my fellow teachers where teaching them a little about voting, congress, the two major parties etc. I really do not think that at there age I was really aware of the Presidential race as they are this year. However, I must admit that when I went over to our Middle School I was a bit disappointed at the actions of some of our students and the lack of knowledge of most of our students. It really hurt my heart to see one of the young black students in the 7th or 8th grade walk around with her fist in the air cheering Obama and not realize that she is doing an action that was symbolized with the BlackPanthers years ago. I was embarrassed because she did not have enough sense to realize that Obama has not once claimed to have been or be a Black Planther. I was also embarressed to hear that some of the children of different races at this same school were exchanging racial slurs between each other and if questioned they could not give you one single issue either side was for or against. This deeply saddened me, not because I am black, but because this is my school district, community and schools that I group up in and now teach in. I hope in the future that we adults, educators, citizens, parents etc. are able to teach our children more about histroy and stating a educated fact and less about just going along with popular opinion and not knowing any facts and end up making theirselves look like idiots.