To the Masses: Teaching Class at the Bus Stop

Nina, a member of the Center for Political Innovation, believes in and works towards a better future every day – and right now, she’s starting at her son’s elementary school bus stop. Every weekday, she drops her 9-year-old son off into a chaotic scene, with kids arguing, insulting each other, and sometimes even fighting. This unfortunate sight reminds her of the broader state of the country, where Americans are often pitted against each other instead of coming together to achieve their shared potential.

On October 3rd, Nina decided to intervene. She arrived early and prepared. As an artist, she knew she could get elementary schoolers’ attention with some sidewalk chalk. She drew for a short while, and once she had the group’s attention, she asked her question. “Hey, I have a dollar for anyone who can answer a question! What does everyone have in common with everyone else on the bus?” After a pause, a child answered. “We all go to school?” “Good!” Nina answered, handing out a dollar, “but I’m thinking of something else. Anyone else want to try?” Two more kids guessed, gaining a dollar each. “Okay, good guesses,” Nina said, “but let me tell you something else you have in common.”

“You’re all in the same economic class. What does that mean?” Nina explained that a small number of people own huge companies, and they make lots of money because everyone else doesn’t own very much. Normal people, she explained, have to work for them to make money to take care of their families. “I have a job, most of your parents have jobs, and when you get older you’ll have jobs too. So you know what that means? You’re all on the same side.”

Keeping the lesson short for her young (and about-to-leave) audience, Nina brought it back to a smaller scale. “You need to make new friends, because everyone’s good at something. You don’t get anything for thinking somebody’s not cool, and you don’t want to talk to them. But if you want a better life, team up now and stop hating each other. Someday, when you need help to handle something big together, you’ll need every friend you can get to work together.”

Then the bus arrived. The children thought about Nina’s words for a moment, then returned to socializing. According to Nina, they were behaving just a little bit better than before. Of course, the effects of one conversation will last only as long as an elementary schooler’s attention span, and that’s why Nina will be going back. She hopes that hearing a positive message of unity and solidarity over and over will leave an impression on at least one or two kids, over time. While her part may be small, Nina sees it as a piece of a larger whole. In her words, “If parents tried something new within the community… maybe our kids can win this class war if we have more parents doing the same.”

“To the Masses” highlights everyday stories of CPI members engaging their communities. In this segment, we want to share moments that inspire all of us to be city builders wherever we go – hardworking, generous, and ready to lead. If you have a positive story to share, contact us to discuss!