Do Rich People Go To School?

 As I am working on my article for the next FFWP on education, I am reminded of a conversation I overheard yesterday at Venice beach. Yesterday I took my six and ten year old nieces on their first trip to Venice Beach. We were sitting around observing the folks who passed us by on bikes and roller skates when the five year old says to her older sister,"If I were rich and lived on the beach I would ride my bike every day!" Her older sister responds, "What do you mean, you already do?!" And the little one says, "Ya but rich people don't have to go to school so I could ride my bike all day!" Oh the dismay she felt when her older sister replied, "No way Juju, of course they go to school and I bet rich people's schools are way nicer than ours just like their houses." The little one conceded on this point and returned to oohing and ahhing at all the pretty bikes that passed us by. Thinking back on this conversation I feel saddened, angry and inspired all at once. I feel sad and angry because my nieces among many other working class youth's education is under such vicious attacks, yet inspired by niece's awareness of the class divisions that exist in our society and by the contempt in her voice as she explained to her little sister this difference. On our way home we discussed this a little further and I told them about some of the cuts in education, how so many teachers are being fired and schools being closed. They seemed pretty worried about this, but I also explained to them that we can fight against this and the first step was to talk to their parents teachers and fellow students about it, just as they had early at the beach. Not sure if they will be leading walk outs and picket lines of their 1st and 5th grade classes any time soon. But they did agree to take a few copies of the next FFWP to school for their teachers. Hope my sister does not get a call from the principal any time soon, actually I kinda hope she does.