It is amazing how one life experience can translate into another. For almost six years I worked in Kansas state politics, including five sessions in the Kansas House of Representatives. But it was not until I worked as a substitute teacher’s aide for a Kindergarten class that I gained some perspective on my past work.
One evening after substituting, I began to realize the parallels that exist between a Kindergartner and a Legislator. For instance, the second most dangerous space in the Statehouse was the distance between a legislator and a free meal. Likewise, one of the most dangerous spaces in a Kindergarten classroom is the distance between a kid and the cabinet holding the graham crackers. (If you are interested, the first most dangerous space in the Statehouse is the distance between a TV camera and an elected official.)
The deep personal relationships formed in either situation stands as another great similarity. When the kids walk into the classroom on the first day, they will meet the friends they will have for the next thirteen years and quite possibly longer. For legislators, they will meet fellow elected officials, lobbyists, staffers, interns, and even reporters who they will count as some of there best friends.
Now sure, I could go for the cheap shot and say that many times legislators act like kindergartners. To be honest, at times that would be the truth. While the tantrums thrown are far from similar-a kindergartner might throw something or stomp off, a legislator will slash a budget or kill a bill instead-the results can be the same, getting attention or stroking an ego.
One cannot deny that when looking at a class of kindergartners and the assembled body of a legislature, that a great potential exists. Look into the eyes of the children and you could see the doctor to finally cure cancer or AIDS. You can see the mind of an artist that will bring beauty and enjoyment to the masses. You see someone who will be a loving and caring parent to the children they bring into the world.
In the legislature you see people from a diverse background coming together to solve the common problems. You see people who might walk in with little knowledge in a given topic and when they leave they are the chamber’s expert in the area. You see the person who might not be that active on the floor or in the halls, but they will do all they can to meet the needs of their constituents. You see the shy freshman legislator with a glint in his or her eye that tells you this is one to watch as they will be going places.
While you can see a great potential, it is hard to miss seeing those who are the opposite. You hate to have the thoughts, but even in Kindergarten, you can already see the kids who will be problems throughout their school years. Kids that you can only hope someone will be able to turn around before they go too far down the wrong path.
Likewise, in the legislature it does not take long to see which members are there to make a difference for everyone or for just a few. Many times that few is either some benefactor or the career of the legislator.
Now that I have laid out what I saw as the similarities between Kindergartners and Legislators, you might be wondering which one I would prefer to work with. Well, I will punt here and say high schoolers. I know that with a high school student, I can have an intelligent conversation, which is not easy with a five or six year old, and I won’t have to worry about being asked to walk over to Wendy’s and getting them a chicken sandwich before the next class starts.
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Joey Bahr is a former political hack currently working as a teacher’s aide and living in Great Bend, Kansas. You can reach him at letterstojoey@gmail.com.
