ELECTION

When I started teaching in 1973, my salary was $7700 a year. Taxes took out almost half. My bi-weekly paycheck was about $150. I was really poor, but I never once felt it. I had ten good teacher outfits that I alternated and mixed and matched. I thought I was clever and no one would notice. I had a car that needed my student assistant to put water in my radiator before I drove home after rehearsals. My home was a furnished, very small one-bedroom apartment. I lived on tuna and velveeta cheese. But I never went hungry. When I got my Master’s  Degree my salary rose to a whopping $9400. I was rich! After teaching for 35 years, my yearly paychecks had risen to $65,000. I had twenty plus college credits over my Master’s and I was at the top of the pay scale for my school district. Obviously, teachers don’t teach for the monetary reward, rather the majority of us believe teaching is a calling. It It is our destiny. Most of us work really hard not to fu** it up. The majority of teachers aren’t pedophiles. We don’t think about dating our students. Being a teacher does not promote sexual relationships with our students. Let me say loud and clear….yuck. No really…yuck! 

Over the years as a teacher, I have offered refuge to students by inviting them into my home, my personal life. If needed, I have provided food when they were hungry and explained the important of personal hygie. I have baked cakes for their special occasions, and always provide a hug when needed. I was present for their successes as well as their failures. I would help them rise after they have fallen. I also must admit, my students made me a better person as well. I grew and matured. Whenever anyone asked me what I did for a living, I shouted my answer with bursting pride that I was a teacher. I still do even though I have been retired for a long time. 

I take great offense at anyone who abused this position. Over the years I let go of a dear teacher friend who decided it was OK to have an affair with a parent of one of her students while she and he were both married. I knew this was morally wrong on so many levels. Several times I helped students document teachers who were stepping across sexual boundaries. There are moral and ethical issues to be considered for those who aren’t who they profess to be at their core. As in any profession, there can be a few bad apples. Luckily, I didn’t have this problem. I knew who I was and what I stood for. Was it always easy to do the right thing? I don’t know. I want to say yes.  I just did the best I could with what I knew at the time. I didn’t cheat. I didn’t lie. I tried not to knowingly hurt anyone, and if I did, I would apologize. I used to offer my apologies to my entire cast and crew before each opening night of every show I ever directed. A clean slate was important to me. It was imperative to be responsible and then be able to move forward. 

There have been some films that depicted teachers as cheaters and liars. There were huge Hollywood, sensationalized stories of course, because this kind of plot theme puts butts in theater seats and promotes profits. In 1999, a dark, adult comedy came to the screens that represented the fall of two teachers who acted in the worst light and made devastating choices that would affect everyone around them for the rest of their lives. It was at first thought to be a film about high school students.. overachievers, jocks, and trouble makers. It was supposed to be about an ELECTION, but secretly it shined a spotlight on everyone’s moral compass. Each character was flawed. Nobody  was perfect and definitely the ELECTION winner didn’t really win what they thought was important. It was a horrible, underhanded fight to the bitter, final, battle at the explosive end. I think our country is experiencing the same during this midterm  season. ELECTION is just as relatable today as it was 27 years ago, but perhaps some of us just don’t want to admit it because that would mean truly defining the terms, morals and ethics, as mentioned countless times throughout ELECTION.

ELECTION was not a huge financial success. It was more like a cult film that found its following through the underground. It was however, nominated for an Oscar  in the category of Best Screenwriting. It was based on a novel by Tom Perrotta. There were many major changes made from those original book pages especially with the final pages and how each of the main characters ended up. It was the studio execs who wanted the silly-looking bee sting situation to happen in the movie.  I am still not sure it was necessary and perhaps felt a little over-the-top. Audiences are really pretty smart to figure out the fall and demise of Jim McAllister played by Matthew Broderick. (THE PRODUCERS, FERRIS BUELLER‘S DAY OFF) The director, Alexander Payne (SIDEWAYS) wanted to make this film because he grew up in a small town in Omaha and thought the idea and script would give audiences a double-whammy about teen struggles within the inevitable gossip mill.  

Broderick was extremely believable as the straight-laced, morally centered, three-time teacher of the year at Carver High School in Nebraska. His character was continually on the line especially within his chosen career. McAllister made healthy decisions, exercised, and was beloved by his students, but when his best friend started to make really bad decisions, the two of them began a descent they could never rise above. Broderick was able to show this through his subtle, boyish charm. His downfall was a shock. I did not see it coming and that’s an enormous plus for any film. One of the most vivid and disgusting moments was when McAllister urinated in public on a beautiful, innocent oak tree. On a side note, Broderick actually did reliever himself for the camera. 

Reese Witherspoon (LEGALLY BLOND) played frenetic, overachiever Tracy Flick. Reese was perfectly cast even though she wanted to play the lesbian character,  Tammy. Reese has a way of projecting implied innocence even when Flick was driven, fraught and frazzled every moment. I felt like I was watching a very manic personality. This is extremely difficult to make it all look believable which just reinforces Reese’s insane acting skills. The two, Matthew and Reese together on screen had exasperating, mesmerizing chemistry. It was a toss-up who would win in the end. Their long glares at each other, their powerful silences, their palpable body language made ELECTION come to life showcasing both teenage and adult angst.

The supporting cast hit all the right buttons as well. Chris Klein (AMERICAN PIE) as Paul was pure genius. I felt like I was seeing g the creation of a dumb jock caricature that would be used virtually decades to come. Many of the student extras seen in the hallways or in the gym were really Nebraska high school students from a local school. They were continually moved around while changing their costumes, hair and make-up in order to create an inexpensive, bleacher illusion of a filled to capacity gymnasium. 

ELECTION was a bubble buster. “How can something seem to be so true and turn out to be a lie?” This was at the crux of each story arc. It presented a witty, intellectual glimpse into a scathing high school scenario. It mixed smart acting choices along with a tight, well-developed script. It pushed audiences’ emotional buttons when it came to doing the right thing. ELECTION proved to be recognized as an unhinged, political, black, comedy classic. The film has the power to challenge audiences about the ethical and moral choices currently coming to a head in the next few days  within our country. ELECTION represented the kind of thought-provoking stuff that keeps me up at night while motivating me to continually strive to be a beacon of light for my former students. I stand with my fellow teachers. I have no regrets. I am hopeful this week the good comes out on top. 

ELECTION is available on Paramount+.