To Be Invited To Teach

Yesterday, we went to our homeschool class at the zoo. I recognise so few of the children at this particular homeschool class. Where are they all from? Considering how many conservative, Christian homeschool groups there are in and around this area, I hesitate to assume.

(I’m going to stick my neck out.) But comparing the scientific knowledge between kids at the zoo class with kids at the evolution museum classes, my guess about where they are all from is probably pretty right on.

Anyway....I’m usually one of the only mothers still sitting in on the homeschool classes that we attend. Most of the others have successfully separated. But, we’ve had several years of big transitions. So, if Winston is behind the separation curve, I don’t really mind.

I don’t like to waste my time. When I’m sitting in, I pitch in where I can. I compliment the children on their work. I do my best to be a supportive presence in the classroom. I listen and respond to the children. In some ways, the children have accepted me as part of their educational resource.

Yesterday was cold. So we all bundled up to trek through the zoo to meet Reptile Ray. We arrived a bit early so the kids were milling around. I didn’t bother to take my coat off. As the children were unencombering themselves, a little blonde girl looked up me. Her eyes went wide - almost fearful. She actually took a step back.

I cocked my head to one side and smiled.

“You....y...y..you supported Obama?” She asked incredulously.

“I sure did.” I said in a soft, gentle, smiling voice.

She took a step back. “We are for McCain,” she said nervously. (I knew what was racing through her brain - palling around with terrorists; killing babies; stealing people's hard earned money through taxation; killing babies; the fall of the government to socialists; killing babies; enslavement of the White race and killing babies.)

I smile. The teacher steps in closer. I feel the tension emanating from her body. The home schooling demographic has changed so drastically in recent years. These encounters between liberal and conservative homeschoolers could turn ugly.

I step closer to the little girl. I paste a huge, loving smile on my face. I softly say, “Well, that’s awesome! “

“It is?” she replies. Her eyebrows knit together. A timid frown quivers.

“It sure is!” I say. “You’ve made America a beautiful and strong place.” She looks even more confused. “If nobody could have different ideas, then nothing good could ever happen. We’d stay the same way forever and ever. We’d never grow. We’d never change. Nobody would think of new medicines or create the internet or anything.” I stop smiling. “That would be awful and boring.”

She just stands there looking mildly confused.

“Our forefathers made this country because they wanted everyone to have lots of different ideas. It is what has made us a great country.”

The teacher jumps in, “That’s right. We’re all free to think whatever we think. And we’re all free to talk about it. If nobody disagreed, then, nobody would ever learn anything new.”

I smiled. “And that is democracy,” I said. Everybody says what they think. And then we vote about which person has the best idea.”

Little girl looks confused and unsettled.

“So, you’re awesome for believing in someone you thought had the best ideas. You keep doing that.”

Then she ran off to play. And I was honoured to be invited to teach. I hope she gained a new way of viewing the world. If not, maybe a seed was planted for a later understanding.