New School Order

In watching the three-ring antics of the Capital Hill Big Top on the nightly news, it's easy to forget or overlook the significant drama which often underlies politics at the grassroots level. Forget Senate and House posturings and chest thumping; the real pulse of the American electorate may still be best measured by looking closely at the socio-cultural trends reflected in local elections and state political wrangling. New School Order provides a fascinating verité look at one such particularly rancorous local skirmish--school board elections in the suburban community of North Penn, Pennsylvania. Like many bedroom communities across the country, North Penn, a suburb of Philadelphia, has experienced a population boom in the last decade. With this boom have come hugely increased school enrollments, rising school taxes, and skyrocketing property values. New School Order chronicles the rather unholy alliance of the North Penn Taxpayers Association (a coalition largely made up of senior citizens) and various Fundamentalist and right wing political interests to seize control of the school board--each for its own financial or social agenda. The ensuing bloody tug of war between the political right and left, parents and retirees, young and old, and various religious groups in the community is not a pretty sight to watch. It's particularly chilling to watch the rise of school board candidate Donna Mengel, a cold-eyed anti-Semite, as she bashes her way into power over the North Penns educational future. Clearly, it's ultimately the kids in this school district who are the sad casualties of this war. Despite a tendency to waver in focus at times and a need for a bit tighter editing, New School Order is a unique and valuable comment on changing demographics and changing politics in suburban America. Strongly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (G. Handman)