In one semester I could have 60 or so students to train in a subject they knew nothing about. Sometimes as many as 20 in a class. A 50-year-old white woman before 18-year-old high school graduates. Their way of getting there was through grants and more likely loans. The first thing I wanted to know about an incoming class was which ones wanted to study. Then the second was their aptitude scores. In Chicago during the 70s it was remarkable if schools met every day. One thing which I didn't have to worry about was their manners. There was no unruliness and nor disrespect between them or with me. The group was not totally African-American, but largely so.
I think of the long threads at CK as being a little like a class where the students came to recognize each other. Of course we didn't have a chance to get off the subject. But there was need for cooperative endeavors in making bigger programs. We all needed to use computer time wisely. What I miss at CK is eye contact, not knowing whether a person is tired or just discouraged. A similarity between then and this experience is that I sense deep concern about how they can make their own lives better, knowing that conquering the material is essential.
I remember a woman who was eager, anxious, and withdrawn all in the same moment, trying to get off ADC. Always there was moment when I could teach one on one binary arithmetic, absolutely necessary to make documents on disk, when disks were as big as washing machines. This particular woman told me she was afraid she would have a seizure. She was badly hurt by her ex-husband, and she did want to do the work. After she told me she could tell some others. A young man who had to be on dialysis learned of it. Because he had family members with epilepsy he knew how it helped to get up and walk. He was her escort and it worked. That class was one of the hardest working classes I ever had.
And I tell you this because we woman tell our stories. The men do too, but couch personal stuff in a few historical, philosophical generalizations which make it hard to communicate right away. I've learned to appreciate Bouldin, and Lisa is an absolute wonder. Some of the other women are such great writers.
You may not want to hear this, mole, because you have been brought into politics largely through Howard Dean's efforts, I sense. But you have certainly grown into thinking about more than just going to meetups, handing out cash, and reading polls. I marvel at the variety of your knowledge on social issues.
To summarize. It's a great group. The new enrollees need to be made a part of the team. We can't walk anyone around when they feel like they are going to faint, but there must be something our words can do.
Success comes not from how many brownie points we get but will come if more people achieve brownie points.