Reflecting: Why I Didn't Vote For O'Bama

I think I've stated before that I like the guy, as a guy.  This is not a common thing with politicians for me, especially democratics.  I've been thinking quite a bit lately about my decision not to vote for him (I actually did consider it).  I came to the following analogy, which I truely believe applies to all of those who were actually considering both candidates:

 

I go in to register my kid for 1st grade and the school has two classes and two teachers at the first grade level.  Both classes still have openings and I am involved in PTA, so the school lets me choose which class he gets placed into.

 

Miss Perkins is 22 and she just graduated from college.  She's never taught before, but she did do student teaching (ooh, ahh).  She is hot, perky, energetic and getting me in trouble with my wife because of the way I'm smiling and nodding during our conversation with her. She has great, fresh, fun sounding ideas and explains to us that she doesn't plan to actually teach the alphabet because kids don't like learning it.  But, they learn it eventually through their other "activities".  She tells us how she is excited to use the smarter kids to help the slower kids because it makes them all feel better afterwards.  She is a good model to the kids for health and would definitely be able to catch my son when he decides to start running around the room de-pantsing kids.  She'll be great for him, I can't wait for parent teacher conferences!!

 

Mrs. Bengelstraum is 50, very matter of fact, wears "that dress" that all old gradeschool teachers wear and has gotten an impressive amount of use out of her spectacles.  She tells us about the different methods she uses in class, why she uses them and why she will continue to use them.  She tells us about what she does with the kids who are advanced to keep them progressing ahead of "grade level" and what she does with those who fall behind to quickly get them caught up so the rest of the class doesn't fall behind.  She also gets me in trouble with my wife because she can't keep my attention well enough to prevent me from being caught looking at Miss Perkins and being jealous of the father who's currently having a "discussion" with her.  I begin to think of follow up questions for Miss Perkins so we have a reason to go back and give her more of our time.  There's no way Mrs. Bengelstraum would be able to catch my son in his de-pantsing endeavors, however, he would never think to try it with her.

 

30 years later, my son is still mad at me that the kid next door (who still lives there) had a hot 1st grade teacher while Mrs. Bengelstraum is now one of his patients who needs a pap!!