Welcome

“You think I’m licked. You all think I’m licked. Well, I’m not licked and I’m going to stay right here and fight for this lost cause even if this room gets filled with lies like these, and the Taylors and all their armies come marching into this place. Somebody’ll listen to me…”

Somehow in all of my years of reading history books, following politics, and watching The West Wing, I had never seen Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I’d heard about it, seen a clip or two, but never actually sat down and watched the whole thing.

That changed the other night.

A movie that is three quarters of a century old shouldn’t speak to me so strongly, but it does. Oh, it does.

The joy, the wonder at seeing the monuments? Check.

Being the nerd who actually reads and re-reads every word at the Lincoln Memorial? Check.

Being the little guy fighting the corporate behemoth? Double check.

You see, I’m a public school teacher. Some–many–in the business world would like to put me on the extinct species list. I believe in things like play and exploration and teaching children how to solve their own problems. I give hugs and help get my kids (because no, biologically they’re not mine, but they are mine) the services they need.

I don’t believe in standardized tests. I don’t think Common Core is appropriate, especially for the youngest learners. I don’t think rigor is a good thing.

So Jefferson Smith and I have something in common. It seems like we’re licked. More and more bad news seems to descend every day, every hour.

But I’m not going anywhere.

So welcome. I’m undercoverBAT. It’s nice to meet you.