I took an AP class last year.

It was on our Great America's

Ever-so-long history.

Everyone was always in passionate debate

About court cases and civil rights movements.

I told myself to take it easy 

this year.

Took a regular government class

Just to fill in the credit 

Requirement.

Sitting in this class,

I realize everyone else is

Just trying to fill the same requirement.

The other 29 students are just in here

To get a credit.

 

They wake up and they don't care

If their grade is an A or a C.

They just want to graduate.

There are only five kids consistently

Participating. (It's a requirement

for a higher grade).

I counted. Only five.

24 other kids could care less that we have

A bicameral legislature or that America's ideas

are based off John Locke's ideas.

 

Think about it for a second, our Congress couldn't even agree

On a budget.

What government am I learning about exactly?

Humor me more as my white, male, middle class teacher 

Tries to teach us about the rights of

American citizens.

We know, you're in a union.

Teachers are having a hard time.

So is the kid two rows in front of me who

Was stopped in the subway because he

Looked "suspicious".

You think he feels like an American citizen who is protected under law?