"Diamond Tiara?"
"Here, Miss Cheerilee!" the pink pony said in her nicest, sweetest voice. Applebloom wanted to gag.
"Scootaloo?"
"Here, Miss Cheeri-OW!" Scootaloo suddenly yelped as a spitball hit her right in the flank. Diamond Tiara quickly hid the bendy straw that she used to launch the projectile as Cheerilee looked up from her attendance sheet.
"Is something wrong, Scootaloo?" Cheerilee said in a concerned yet bubbly voice. No, everything is NOT alright! Scootaloo's flank was sore and Diamond Tiara was at fault. She was about to speak up when the purpotrator of the crime shot Scootaloo a nasty look, the "say anything and I'll kill you" kind of nasty look.
"Uhh... No, Miss Cheerilee. Everything is fine." Scootaloo quickly chimed. Her flank was still sore, but she decided against telling on Tiara. That would make her a tattle-tale, and everypony hates tattle-tales.
"Well, if Scootaloo is here, that means everypony is present today!" Cheerilee exclaimed. There was usually at least one pony gone for one reason or another, so this was an exciting prospect. "And that's a good thing, because today's topic is very important. Everypony knows that the Mayoral Election is coming up, so today I decided we are going to talk about the democratic system in Ponyville." The entire class groaned.
"Can't we ahll wait 'till we 're old enough ta' vote before we worry about politics?" Applebloom complained, voicing every foal's opinions on the matter.
Cheerilee smiled. "I know it doesn't seem importaint now, My Little Ponies, but Ponyville's democratic system is a truly fascinating subject. Did you know that Ponyville is the only city in Equestria which decides its leadership through elections?" There was a pause, as the students looked at her with blank stares. The magenta mare explained: "A democratic system is one which decides its laws and leadership by popular vote instead of being decided by a royal family or dictator."
Sweetie Belle raised her hoof. She wore a confused expression. "How come Ponyville is the only one? Don't other cities get their mayors appointed by the Princess?"
Cheerillee smiled. "Good question, Sweetie Belle. Ponyville was founded by Earth ponies, and the first settlers that came here were used to the way of 'electing' their leader that most explorers use. Instead of having a pony royally appointed as 'governor' like most cities, ever since Ponyville was founded the entire leadership has been chosen by the residents." Cheerilee smiled widely. Everypony knew she though very highly of this subject, she hadn't been this excited since Hearts and Hooves day... though for entirely different reasons. "Now, can anypony tell me how often we hold mayoral elections?"
Twist spoke up, as usual. "We haf' electionth every four yearth!"
"That's right, Twist! Mayor Mare was elected four years ago, beating out Mayor Shucks by a landslide. But now the four years have come and gone, and anypony who wants a shot at it can declare themselves a candidate! Isn't it exciting to know that someday, any one of you could be elected mayor?"
The foals started talking among themselves excitedly about how cool it would be to call the shots. But even through the noise Cheerilee could clearly hear two male voices in the back of the room. "That is exciting, Snails!" Snips said. "Maybe I'll run for mayor when I grow up!"
"I'd vote for ya, Snips!" the slow-witted unicorn smiled. "Maybe you could run for mayor this election and skip the growing up!"
Cheerilee sighed. Every four years, this topic came up. And every four years, she would have to break some hearts. Being a teacher wasn't always fun and games. "Actually, Snails, I'm afraid that's impossible"
Snips missed the point. "I know I can't run this election, Miss Cheerilee! I was just about to tell Snails that there is an age-limit and a height limit and..."
His teacher cut him off. "That's not what I mean, Snips." she said in a soft, caring voice.
"Then what do ya mean, Miss Cheerilee?" Applebloom spoke up. Other ponies must have heard, so suddenly all eyes were on the teacher. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Cheerilee wished she could get her students to listen like that all the time.
"I mean that Snips can't run for mayor." the teacher said plainly.
"Why not? Would I be a bad mayor, Miss Cheerilee?" Snips was confused.
She shook her head. "No, not at all. It's just that ... according to the current laws, Stallions cannot run for any office, vote, or own land in Ponyville."
Silence. Every time this subject came up it was silence. The silence of tiny minds trying to process this information.
Sweetie Belle broke the awkward moment with her childish, squeaky voice. "You mean... Featherweight and Snips and Snails... can't run for mayor? Or vote? Or even buy a house?"
Cheerilee mentally prepared herself to answer, inhaling deeply and closing her eyes. This is so wrong. A democratic system isn't truly democratic if any party or group is not represented. After a few seconds, she began speaking, smoothly and evenly. "That is correct, Sweetie Belle."
Diamond Tiara huffed. "I don't know what you are talking about. My dad owns a lot of land. He does work in the real estate business, after all."
Cheerilee thought for a second. "He probably buys the land under your mother's name. That makes the most sense to me, anyway."
The rest of the class was still lost in thought. "But... Why?" Scootaloo finally said.
"There are a lot of reasons. The first is tradition. When the first mares that settled here wrote the law, they allowed "Every Mare" a vote. This doesn't include Stallions. When Stallions started arriving, the law didn't get changed." Cheerilee didn't look at Scootaloo, didn't smile, didn't even add the usual bounce to her voice. It almost seemed as if this fact was... was painful to say.
"That's a dumb reason. Why don't they just change the law?" Diamond Tiara said a little more condescendingly than needed.
She never gets this interested in my lectures. I wonder the sudden change of heart. "Because of the second reason. There are a lot more mares than stallions in Ponyville, so every time a candidate tries to change the law, they lose the next election. Changing a law that fundamental to the Ponyville Constitution is no small task." Cheerilee explained.
"That's not fair!" Applebloom shouted. "Stallions and mares are the same species, we share the same space, and we pay the same taxes! We should be given the same rights!"
"My mommy says that the greater sex has to keep the inferior one in line, and make sure that stallions don't mess up our society with their brutish impulsiveness."
Cheerilee quickly scanned the room for the speaker, singling out Silver Spoon. She was about to respond with a counter-argument when she was interrupted by the one who started this all.
Snails spoke for the first time since Cheerilee started talking about voting rights. His question almost broke her heart. "Miss Cheerilee, what does 'inferior sex' mean?"