The Diego Diaries: Callow Debate 2 (417 dd8)

=0=Debate

They walked back to the green room passing Hugh-E and Lane who came forward for their turn. Bumping fists with Sunstreaker, Hugh-E walked out to the stage where cheers and applause greeted both debaters.

They turned toward Conn who was organizing his questions, then Conn glanced at them. "Welcome, gentlemen. Tonight we have incumbent Board member Hugh-E of Kaon of Seat 5 and Lane of Polyhex his challenger. Hugh, won't you tell us about your journey toward membership on this Board which has been from its expansion during the earliest colonial orns until now."

Hugh-E or Huge-E as he was mostly known grinned at Conn. "Sure," he said to general laughter.

Hugh-E of Kaon dwarfed both mechs on the stage and most of those in the audience. He was a big frame and his default vehicle mode was that of an earth hauler or belly dump truck. He was massive but extremely agile and quick. His grip was nearly equal to Ratchet's or Prime's such was his power.

His personality was kindly, sweet and self effacing like most of the big guys. They were confident mechs but seldom put themselves into a position of prominence. Being on the School Board was the most public thing short of being a stand out player for the Kaon Kavaliers that Hugh ever did.

He was a dedicated Autobot who'd been a soldier long ago before the Diaspora intervened and he had to defend and assist his huge family and that of his bond. Now he was an Auxiliary Reserve soldier. He was a father of four kids, three little girls and the bond of the fabulous micro mini-con named Boo-Boo. It was a hilarious thing to see them together but they were a unit, these two and she was a dynamo. Her membership on the Genitor-Teacher Association at Sparkling Day was long term and active.

"When we came in the beginning The City was underground and there were a few barracks houses and The Fortress. We came with the second landing of refugees. All of our kids were separated here. Because there were only a handful of kids and some of them divided their time between the daycare school at Diego and here, we had time to build a little school for them and organize our teachers and support staff.

"My bond was a back up teacher who helped. The committee that ran the school invited me to join and I did. I stayed with it because I love the kids, our schools and the workers who do the magic. It makes me feel like I'm paying back serving on the Board and the members are mostly those who were there from the beginning, especially No-a, Ironhide and Sunstreaker. Its fun and useful."

"Thank you, Hugh-E. What about you, Lane? What brings you to this election?" Conn asked.

"I was a member of a school board on Cybertron, the one that ran the primary schools in Polyhex. I liked it a lot. Working with and helping kids was great and because my family published technical manuals for a large number of businesses and operations there was always that element of learning involved. I like it and I like to assist it," Lane said.

"The first question we have is off the survey which was undertaken for a month prior to these debates. These questions were culled from a list generated by the public so these are their focus issues right now," Conn said. "What is your opinion on the way curriculums are made here especially in light of the new information about our history, culture and economic systems? What would you do to enhance or change it if you're the member of this seat? Hugh-E?"

"We have standing committees for each subject who do nothing all orn but work on our school's curriculums. What we teach is vetted by the best expertise possible. We have academic mechs and femmes of national repute working on history, the sciences, economics and cultural issues and how things really went down.

"We have access to the big databases on Cybertron and we have a lot of individuals who lived through events, participated in them all the way to the top and who are resources for our people to get to the truth of things no matter how it falls out. No one wants to teach our kids things that aren't true. No one is more aware of how much that's happened than us.

"That's why we have the Living History Project and the Visiting Expert Program. We have exempt Immortals living here, some of them who have memories back to Unicron. They visit the schools and tell our kids about their experiences. We have individuals who lived through every revolution we ever had and can tell stories about Guardian Prime and the Quintessans. Some of them remember coming to sentience on the platforms at the beginning during the Hidden Time."

A murmur went through the crowd, then died down.

"We have an obligation to get the best information, work it out, have it read through the committee that vets each word then its presented to us. When it is its pretty much set to go though there are usually things we ask about to get clarification or because a genitor or teach asked us to do so.

"Bias is a big deal and we don't want it taught as truth. Its the biggest focus of our effort, to keep bias and lies out of the things kids learn."

"Lane?" Conn asked.

Lane considered the question a moment. "We don't want bias taught but we also don't want to overlook the things that were good. There was a lot of good before the Revolution."

A murmur and unease rose in the crowd, then subsided.

Lane noted it. "I am fully behind teaching the truth. I'm glad that so many great academics serve on these committees. I would also hope that all points of view get aired. Bias can be subtle."

"When we began to rebuild our teaching sector in earnest we were concerned that the slag that The System of Exception taught about some of us being better than everyone else didn't become part of that. No one in this room wants their kids to learn that a few of them are better than the rest. We're an academic school district. We have the best experts possible working on our educational plans. We're aware of bias and the old infection.

"That's why the process of making educational materials takes so long. It took three years to create our history series for all the levels, 'The Story of the Cybertronian People' and our civics courses for Intermediate School, 'The Cybertronian People' and 'The Cybertronian State: Politics, Economics, History and Revolution'. We take the time to get it right."

Conn glanced at Lane who shook his helm. "I have differences but they aren't important."

"We would hope you'd explain them to us so everyone will be informed when they vote," Conn said.

Lane considered that, understanding from the undertow of tension in the room that most of what he'd say was going to be unpopular. "I would like to have a good discussion in the schools about The System and how it affected Cybertron. I do believe there's more to that than I've seen and I'm sure there are many in the colony who would volunteer to speak to it with the children, especially those in the Intermediate Schools."

The room was cold with tension at this comment, though no one said anything out loud.

"Thank you, Lane. A good and interesting suggestion. Our next question comes from the survey as well. What's your position on having humans vote in our School Board election, a first time thing for all of us," Conn asked Hugh-E. "I would also like to ask what your philosophy about having human children in this schools entails."

Hugh-E grinned. "I love having them. My son is small and he attends Sparkling Day with Niall Graham, Junior. They're great friends. It helps my son around organics to know how delicate they are and it helps humans learn about us. Win-win.

"As for elections, I agree. Some of the humans are citizens of Cybertron by grant of the Prime while the others have children attending. Some of those children are killing it, learning our languages and being champs. I approve.

"The more they can be a part of our lives here, the more the humans on Earth learn about us. Learning is the path away from fear. Its good for the treaties and its good for us. Ron Witwicky who's running for an open seat is a friend and I think he'd do a great job and add another perspective."

Conn glanced at Lane. "Sir?"

"When I heard that a human was running I was surprised. I didn't know that Prime had granted citizenship to some of them. Given that's true then they hold full rights and are welcome to do this. As for their children in our schools … its a hard academic environment and if they want to come and experience it I welcome them," he said.

The questions continued with some of then having to do with intramural sports between humans and Cybertronians, the tracking question which was a hot topic in the colony at the moment and the inclusion of the non-public school children using facilities in the public schools.

Hugh-E was for it and Lane was qualified.

"I can see both sides. Some might think that if you choose to not participate in the schools then you opt out. Some might think that the children's needs trump parental decisions. I do hope that we can provide the space for this. That's my reservation," Lane said.

"We have plans drawn up to ensure that we have space for those who want to attend. We refuse to allow any child to do without for any reason. At the same time we respect parental decisions. For most of us if our kids were educated in the Diaspora it was because we did it. Some like that still even with the options and the Board is trying to honor that," Hugh-E said in response.

DING!

Conn glanced at his bell, then grinned. "Thank you, Hugh-E of Kaon who is the incumbent Board member for Seat 6 and Lane of Polyhex who is the challenger. We appreciate your time and attention tonight."

Applause led them off stage where Hugh-E slapped Ironhide's servo as he passed the big mech with Callo following. They continued onward to the green room to sit and watch the main card for the night, Ironhide and his nemesis bot, Callo.

=0=In the green room

The silence in the room continued as Ironhide and Callo rose to follow a stage hand to the gathering. They passed Lane and Hugh-E who entered the room to sit and relax.

"Nice going," Sunstreaker said to Hugh-E.

"Thanks," Hugh-E said. "I kind of like these things."

"I don't," Sunstreaker said.

"You did a good job. You can't go wrong defending children and their dreams, Sunny," Hugh-E said.

No one else said a word. Then Conn began introductions.

=0=On stage

"Our final members are Ironhide of Praxus, member of Seat 3 and his challenger, Callo of Praxus. Welcome. Ironhide, I'd like to hear how you of all mechs ended up the Secretary of the School Board."

A ripple of laughter greeted that.

"I'd have to say Ratchet had something to do with it," Ironhide said to general laughter. "When we came to this system there was only Prime, me, Ratchet, Jazz and Bumblebee. Prime put out a call for soldiers and refugees heard it. They came to us and we had a need, a need to give structure and education to a slowly growing number of children, my son Orion among them.

"We started in Diego Garcia at the embassy then built up our school and its system here. There were always stand alone buildings in each city dedicated to the schools and when they were needed they were opened. We have 32 sparkling schools, 21 youngling schools with 17 intermediate now. We make plans to ensure that we're always ahead and Jetta, the Empire Chief Engineer checks with us with every expansion of the master plan.

"I wanted the best for my first son and then my other sons and daughters. It meant that I had to invest myself into this process and being on the School Board is the way I do it. I can get for my son what every child here needs, everything that we can give them. It was a small thing and now its big. Its one of the best things I do for this colony and for my family. Its one of the best things I do for myself and I have the added gift of continuity because Sunstreaker, No-a and myself were there when it began."

"We've heard from the other candidates about their views on tracking. I would like to hear from both of you because its become a very charged idea among some of the district's genitors," Conn said. "Ironhide?"

"I'm not in favor of it. My son Orion is a smart little mech with a lot of ideas about what's fun and what's not. He's going to grow up and change his mind a hundred times but that's his right. So it going after the thing you want to do. I'll be frank with you. I was Praxian Military Elite. My whole family is. I know about having an unblocked path forward.

"I also watched our people suffer from not having it. There's nothing in me that would support anything that even faintly appears to be a part of that thinking. I want every kid to have every opportunity to do that thing they want to do. If that means more programs, more specialist teachers and more time spent achieving the skills, then that's what we need to do.

"How many brilliant things were never invented, written, created or done because someone couldn't get down that road? Its not happening here again. Call it what you want but it smells like The System to me."

Huge applause greeted that.

"Callo?" Conn asked.

Callo glanced at Ironhide.

=0=TBC 4-22-2022

HAPPY EARTH DAY! (I didn't know until now. SIGH! I have to pay attention)

Curriculums: What a teacher teaches, the information and stuff used and organized by the district to teach a subject the way its constructed by committees.