The Diego Diaries: Callow Debate (416 dd8)

=0=The Debate

"My first question is for the incumbent, Sunstreaker of Kaon. You've been on the School Board since it was created. What brought you to this and why?" Conn asked.

Sunstreaker considered that. "When we came to Earth there was only a handful of us and there were a few kids, my brother, Orion and some refugees. We needed a routine for them so we set up a little daycare school at our base at Diego Garcia. We all took turns helping in it, trying to provide education for the kids, some of which had been through a lot.

"I liked it. I liked the kids. Most of us hadn't seen or been around them since we were ourselves. One thing led to another. I had kids of my own and their progress, their education and opportunities are one of the main things I work for in my life. I never got to go to school but my kids do and whatever they need or what, no matter what it is or how hard it is to get or make happen, I will do it. Its my duty and responsibility as a father and as a board member to make sure it happens for all the kids no matter what."

Applause and agreement rippled through the crowd at that answer.

"Piero, could you answer the same question please," Conn said to the tall handsome mech watching Sunstreaker.

"I was able to get a great education on Cybertron. We all know why and I won't belabor that. Its my desire to be useful to the colony and bring to the table my ability to organize and create things. My family was in the publishing business. We published books of all manner including texts for schools.

"I like this world, the world of education and learning. I want to be a part of it again. Helping children make their way is important and I agree that what they need should be granted. I have experience in creating that sort of thing and wish to be part of the group who's responsible for creating it," Piero said calmly. "I believe that I have the talents and know how to add something to this that's positive and useful."

Conn nodded. "Thank you both. Our second question is one from the survey. What sort of emphasis should we put on guiding children to trades or university, something that's referred to as tracking? What are your feelings and views on tracking children into one or the other as a career path?"

Sunstreaker glanced at Piero, then Conn. "I don't care for it. It feels like the old way of doing this, sort of programming kids to be one or the other. I think kids are capable of knowing what they want early enough and even if they don't the idea should be to give a range of experiences with all sorts of things rather than say to a kid your skills aren't going to be enough to get you here or there so were going to only offer this to you.

"I want every kid to have their dreams. If someone said to me about my son or daughters that we don't think you have it in you to do what you want but that you should go this way, not that … I'd be hard to live with. That Functionalist-System style slag is over. Kids should have open pathways to their dreams and the schools should do what it takes to help them achieve it."

Huge applause greeted that.

Conn grinned at Sunstreaker, then glanced at Piero. "Sir?"

Piero considered that. "I'm aware of the system of doing this. Its not meant to discourage anyone but to encourage children to take their talents in a more realistic way to make something of them in the areas where they're strong. Some kids no matter their wishes might not have the skills to do the thing they truly want. We've all been there.

"The tracking system is designed to help them achieve good possibilities without the spark ache of continual failure. What that achievement is depends on the abilities and skills of the child. Sometimes no matter of assistance or encouragement will make that dream come to pass."

"Then its up to us to make it happen. If a kid has to spend more time on learning a skill or set of them, then we have the duty and responsibility to support that," Sunstreaker said. "Its not up to us to decide for them. If it takes more time and effort we have to be there for them."

"But sometimes all the effort and time in the world won't make it happen. I wanted to understand and apply myself to physics but I didn't have the ability to grasp it well enough to make a career of it. I want every child to have their dream but there has to be an alternative to help them if that isn't feasible," Piero said.

"Time and effort," Sunstreaker said. "Supply the teachers and help, give them every opportunity. I believe in kids. I believe in their dreams. For me, there's nothing but time and opportunity. Kids will get it. I believe in them," Sunstreaker said fiercely. "When I was a kid my brother and I were in a youth center because our genitors were crushed by the System. We made our way and nothing stood in front of us that we didn't defeat.

"Here, our kids have it spread out before them. For that, I know their path is going to be what they want it to be. For all the kids here, we have to make that possible. If we don't believe in them, how will they believe in themselves?"

Huge agreement spread through the crowd, then they silenced.

"You and I have a fundamental difference of opinion, Piero," Sunstreaker said grimly. "I guess we leave it at that."

In the green room waiting their turn Ironhide, Hugh-E, Callo and Lane watched and listened in a tense silence.

Ironhide glanced at Hugh-E. "Sunny is doing fine. No one can fault him for doing right by our kids."

Callo glanced at Ironhide. "We'll see."

"We will," Hugh-E said with a grin. "The voters will tell the tale."

No one answered at they turned back to the screen.

=0=There

They debated questions on district zoning, new student programs and then came to a subject that was of interest to a lot of the audience.

"Our next question involved affiliated schools such as religious, non-religious, home and the habitat schools. The question involves the extent and kinds of services that the district provides or not and what you see as needed and necessary for them, those who don't officially attend our public schools themselves," Conn said. "Sunstreaker?"

"We have a lot of small schools as satellites in our system, some religious and some not. We have a lot of kids homeschooled either by their genitors or by groups led by non-credentialed teachers. Those are teachers who didn't get a degree or have teaching certificates but want to teach their kids themselves for whatever reason.

"Some of our affiliated satellites are the private schools, religious or not, like the Circle Academies and the new Temple school. We also help and support the human International schools and include human kids into our public schools as permanent students while including Habitat kids as well into activities and facilities. We also support them with equipment and materials.

"We have kids who have disabilities in specialist schools and have the Pioneer Schools for accelerated kids. Our public schools even have kids like Swan and Teatro who are metroformers enrolled with accommodations.

"We're flexible about our kids in their different schools and placements. We try to accommodate everyone and their needs. Even if they don't attend our public schools we support them through special printings of their materials. We help them with equipment, specialists like speech and physical therapists and have our doctors and nurses visit them on a regular basis just like the public schools. They get music and art, too.

"We print and share out materials and equipment with the habitat schools and provide training for their teachers. We have them on our books and do the data work for them to help them improve and work out their own programs.

"The point of contention from some, mostly former high castes is the inclusion of all these different groups, programs and needs into the infrastructure and programs of our schools even though they don't attend them full time. They use our labs, swimming pools, buses and transport systems, planetariums including the science centers on the TransWorld Highway and Trypticon as well as our skills centers.

"The beef with that is some feel that if they don't attend public schools they don't deserve to use the facilities and get the support of our experts and programs. I disagree completely."

"What do you say about this, Piero, if I may interject here, Sunstreaker?" Conn asked.

Sunny nodded grimly. "That's fine."

Piero thought a moment. "I feel that all children need educated to the greatest possible level but I also feel that it behooves them to be a part of something if they wish inclusion in some but not all areas. Its not terrible to believe that if you want to be a part of a system to the extent that you use things they offer not to go further and join it."

There was a murmur in the crowd, a slight thing, then it died. It was very quiet in the room as Ratchet's family and Prime's sat in the audience listening to a debate that suddenly had taken a serious turn. This was a fundamental differing of the two if Piero continued on this line.

"Then if you want different things for your kids, maybe to teach them what you want them to have or have a religious background, it means you can't have support or access to the things others have who go to the public schools?" Sunny asked.

"I think if you want to have that sort of education for your children then that's fine. There's even parts of it that make sense to me such as providing materials. But the buildings are part of the public system and should be held for those who attend there. There's wonderful libraries, swimming pools in the Sports Centers and such in this colony. I think there should be the best and most careful use of our resources. Choices have consequences."

Sunny stared at him, then the audiences. "We live on a planet that's nearly 50% Class A and A- energon. We have millions and millions of hands and processors. We can make what they need including more schools. My son goes to public school but my daughters to the Circle of Light Preparatory Academy. So do a lot of my family and my sister is in the Temple School of Primus. We wanted a religious background for our daughters and so does my genitors for my sister. That should be supported like any other kid.

"We went over the scheduling at the last School Board meeting with the scheduler. Its hard work to get it done and ensure transport for the kids but its what we're here for. Its what all our kids deserve," Sunstreaker said.

Huge applause greeted that.

"I believe as well as you do that all the children here and on Cybertron deserve the best and most abundant education they can have. I'm just concerned that there will be facilities to go around. I fully believe in public schools. The private schools are a choice next to the choice if you understand me. I would hope that the number of student having needs including those who want different choices for their kids don't outpace our ability to provide."

"That's where we come in. We develop long term plans for these things. Its what we do," Sunstreaker said to a murmur of approval. "All kids no matter where they go will get the support and access they need. Its what we do."

The crowd applauded.

The questions continued for the entire joor which flew past so fast it was shocking when the chime dinged it was over.

Conn grinned. "That's the time limit, gentlemen. I would like to thank Sunstreaker of Kaon, incumbent Board member of Seat 3 and your challenger Piero of Polyhex for coming to the debate. You've inaugurated this new practice and we thank you and wish you good luck in the election in five orns."

Huge applause was made as both of them shook Conn's servo, then walked off toward the green room to sit and wait for the other two. They didn't look at or speak to each other all the way there.

=0=TBC 4-21-2022

NOTES will be answered tomorrow. Your notes lately have been fire. :D

See? I may be old but I'm not dead. HUGS

ESL

Incumbent: (in-come-bent) Someone who holds a position and is running for it again. Sunny and Ironhide are incumbent school board members. They already hold the seat and are running to be elected again.

Inaugurated: (ih-nog-you-rated) someone who comes and begins something. When a president is elected they are inaugurated or begin their office. In America they do it with parades and slag in the deepest and darkest part of winter, January 19th. Sort of tells the story doesn't it. LOL! HUGS!

Funny story, they used to start presidencies on March 4th. Get it? March forth? 1790's humor. LOL!

I don't remember if I put down the meaning of callow. It means wimpy, a wuss. Callo. :D