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by Sara Ferguson, Special to CNN
Editor's Note: Sara Ferguson is a 20 year employee of the Chester Upland School District where she currently teaches Literacy and Math. She is a third generation educator in Chester Upland. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Widener University, a Masters of Education in Elementary Education from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Cabrini College.
When I visited the White House for the first time, as a child, it was my teacher who brought me there. This week I returned, as a teacher and as a special guest of President Obama during his State of the Union Address. It was an honor to be in attendance, and I am grateful for the attention my struggling school district has received. However, if there's one message I hope is heard across the country about the financial crisis in my school district, it is this: It's a crisis that never should have happened.
Let's back up for a moment. We have long had financial troubles in Chester Upland School District in Pennsylvania. The majority of students here come from families living at or below the poverty level. More than 70 percent of our students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, which is more than double the state average.
In January, though, things went from bad to worse. Pennsylvania's Governor Tom Corbett cut $860 million in state funding, which meant a 14.4% drop in funds for Chester Upland. Cuts like these disproportionately hurt school districts that are already financially distressed. On top of that, state funding was cut most dramatically in the districts that needed it most.
We then learned that our school district did not have enough money to make payroll. The 204 teachers and 64 support staff in Chester Upland were told we might not receive our paychecks.
This was a crisis for our community, because our students need teachers. It was also a crisis for all of us teachers and support staff personally, because we need to provide for our own families.
With the leadership of our the Chester Upland Education Association, though, we came together and made a decision. We had a responsibility to provide our students with the education they deserve. We decided to keep working as long as we could make ends meet.
I'm proud of my colleagues in Chester Upland, because I know that not every profession would respond the same way. Once you get into school and you get into the classrooms and see those children, though, you aren't thinking about money. It's not dollars and cents.
Many people have taken a positive message from this crisis, as the country has seen how our community pulled together in defense of our schools, holding candlelight vigils, and how our union worked with lawmakers until emergency measures were taken.
The most important message that needs to be heard, though, is that the financial crisis in Chester Upland School District was no anomaly. It could happen to you.
At the root of the problem in my district and in yours is an inequitable system of funding public education. As I write this, politicians across the country are trying to balance their budgets on the backs of students. They are making excuses for not giving students and teachers the tools they need to be successful. Meanwhile, too many of our school districts are nearing a fiscal crisis which threatens their students' academic future.
We need to turn these misplaced priorities on their head. Education must be at the top of our list, not the bottom. Our students have a legal right to a quality public education, and we have a moral and legal responsibility to provide it for them.
To get our country back on track we need to invest in education. I was proud to hear that message from President Obama at his State of the Union Address, and to know that he understands why teachers and support staff devote our lives to our students. We need more politicians to speak up and say the same thing.
We need to pressure our lawmakers to make the right decisions, tackle the big issues, and rebuild an economy that works for everyone, not just for some. We need to ensure equity in education funding, so that all students can reach their full potential – not just the ones lucky enough to be born into a wealthy zip code.
I know that the economy and job security are on all our minds, but we cannot lose sight of the big picture. In addition to teaching future generations to think critically and be leaders in our democracy, public schools also prepare them with 21st century skills so that they can compete in a global economy. If lawmakers shirk this responsibility, the economic future of this country will be bleak.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sara Ferguson.
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There has been mention of a 'Test Preparation' class in my school, and I cannot see how this class will help any student after the high-stakes tests. Instead of focusing on creative and critical thinking, there has been more focus on rote memorization. In my school, there is no more 'Home Economics' (the closest comparable class would be a 'senior strategies' class that was recently added, and that doesn't even cover basics like sewing and cooking), and the auditorium goes unused or used as storage for most of the year since our theater class was cut. I was fortunate enough to be able to take theater before it was cut, and it has helped me immensely with public speaking. The few students who do get respectable amounts of public speaking experience are in my Agricultural Science class, in which leadership is a focus. In fact, that class has given me more life skills than any of my academic classes. Today's society focuses on test scores as if they are the answer to all of our educational problems. Many of my peers feel that the tests are too inefficient, and force teachers to teach to the test. Perhaps we should focus on progress as a factor for funding, rather than simple memorization?
Just wanted to put my two cents in.
We could stop wasting a vast amount of the time kids are in school by getting rid of the "No child left behind" tests. They could use the time to actually, ermmm, learn, instead of prepping for a test to get funding.Ask a teacher how much time is wasted on this rote memorization, then ask yourself "Is our children learning?"
Thanks for the excellent posts. I have been following you for a whilst on my rss reader, thought i would make the effort to say THANK YOU right now.
She's definitely right and has pretty face than any other teacher
Time for a grass roots effort to march on the capital and shame the governor into funding the schools in these poor districts. The illusion is fat cats assume the poor have no voice. Time to prove them WRONG! If this can happen here, it will happen anywhere next time. How much are we willing to tolerate until it becomes our problem?
How much money is enough? How much more money do they need to get the job done right? There are districts out there in very poor, economically depressed areas that achieve much more with less? Also, there are districts out there that will never succeed no matter how much money you throw at the problem. Money, while important, is not the only or the best determing factor of a child's schooling success. Let's concentrate our efforts on ALL of the issues that will have a positive, educational influence on the lives of our children . . .
Here's the thing about teaching with no pay: The first time you "cave" and you're willing to do it because some of us teachers put the children before politics- they (the school districts) know they can get away with it. The next time- they'll just expect it instead of doing everything they can to make sure teachers get paid. HELL NO! WE WON"T GO! If the school districts had any respect for the teachers or the children instead of fat-cat administrators lining their own pockets with huge salaries, expensive golden parachutes, they would make sure teachers get paid, teachers have the money to buy needed materials instead of spending money out of our own pockets. The public school system in America is a broken failure filled with unkept promises by school districts and government. This is why we have teacher's unions and you need to follow the advice of your union. NO PAY-NO TEACH. Walk out! Period. This is the only way these corrupt school districts will get the message. AND WALK OUT OFTEN!
Hell yes.
I am so glad to see a post that addresses the need to get paid. Every time one of us says "I'd do it for free in my pajamas because I love it so much and it's ok if no one wants to pay me enough to be able to afford real clothes" we are shooting ourselves in the proverbial foot with a bazooka. If we offer to teach for free they will take us up on that offer. I already make about the same as the shift manager at my nearest mcdonalds...why should I get less than any other professional? The author of this article has two master's degrees and she thinks that teaching for free, for passion, for the joy of being in the classroom takes the place of a paycheck????? Infuriating and damaging to those of us who need the money we earn to pay our bills. How am I to be a good teacher if I am constantly demoralized by the lack of pay and respect for what I do? This is where I leave off with full sentences and just start screaming in frustration!
I am a 26-year-old male former public educator, married with two children, who left the field because of no jobs, no money, and no respect.
These teachers are foolish. The problem with many educators is that too many of them want to be heroes in the name of loving children, but the truth is that no matter how much you may care about the kids, it's still a job, and you need an income. Especially for men, who statistically tend to be the primary bread winners in the family, this is a very foolish act that can have negative effects for their families in the name of children that are not their own. Kudos to the teachers, especially the male teachers, in the district who were willing to say "no" to the foolish choice of letting the poor economic conditions control them by working for no money.
You're a teacher? Please google: double negatives.
When our illustrious elected officials continue to tell us the lie "we're giving the responsibility of education back to the people" , what they really mean is: government is reducing the amount of money to pay for education, the people will pay more out of their own pockets and WE'LL continue to tell them how to do it. All the while, our teachers fight a losing battle with declining pay and bureaucratic nonsense to support mandated testing and schools are denied access to funding for performing poorly on these idiotic tests while others get the "carrot on the end of the stick". We should let our educators educate and keep politicians out of it. Parents should be actively involved in their children's education and home life activities and not just show up to meetings to discuss why little Johnny is failing or being sent to disciplinary classrooms for misbehavior. Teachers shouldn't have to call meetings to address a student's poor health issues or abuse issues from home or family members, but they do regularly. Yet for the responsibility teachers are given, their salary doesn't match. No, I'm not a teacher. I work in the chemical industry. I have had children in public schools and have been active in their educational process all the way through college. Both chose the teaching profession. One decided to make it her life's career; the other decided it was not for her and chose a different career. Of one thing I am certain. Both of my children will be successful, but it wasn't our government that accomplished that. They had some excellent teachers who encouraged and challenged them to learn, good parental support and the will to set goals and accomplish them. They overcame the broken system that dictated their educational requirements, but many won't. When this country decides it's had it's belly-full of poor decisions by elected officials and quits over-spending for the "uncommon defense" and begins spending more on our children's re-designed education, this country will be far better off and will have something to look forward to...
From 2006 to 2011, the district's student population declined 4,300 to 3,600 (-16%), however, the number of district employees increased from 590 to 720 (+22%), furthermore the district's operating budget inceased from $83 million to $114.million (+37%). Education IS very important. As such, we should insure that our tax dollars are effectively managed and wisely spent. Looking at the numbers above, while certainly not the whole story, does give an impression that the district's financial situation is not being properly managed. All too often it seems, when a local school district is insolvent, the first battle cry is too "save" our schools and secure additional funds or tax revenue. While sometimes this is indeed required, it should not be done until, until absolutely, the district's finances are fully scrutinized, hard decisions made, and the school board and district management put under a microscope and held accountable.
I understand that many different elements factor into how and why a student succeeds or fails in school: strong and consistent parental involvement/committment, a stable and nurturing family home life, a safe and stimulating learning environment, strong and dedicated teachers operating in a system that supports/rewards them. I didn't mention money because it really goes without saying that a well funded school system is an investment in our society and our children; No, despite the commentary from Ms. Ferguson above focusing on the need for increased funding, our focus should truly be where it matters the most: on fixing a system that has long lost it's way in producing, in the vast majority of our children, responsible, well-schooled/skilled, and well-adjusted citizens that can pre-eminately compete in a ever changing global economy. We have lost our way, and the conversations on school reform of the last 30-40 years focusing on throwing ever increasing dollars at the problem has at best, been counter-productive and, at worst, criminally ineffective and short-sighted. I think most of us, when we hear the ever strident pleas for additionaly funding, while alarmed and concerned, naturally want to know where all the other dollars went, and for what gain, before throwing more hard earned dollars down an ever voracious black hole.
I believe that most teachers honestly want to do a good job. I further believe that a great teacher is worth their weight in gold and should be compensated accordingly. But mostly I believe how we "do" education in this country wrong; that our country has been walking down the wrong road for some time without a map. We need to tear down our existing system and totally rethink and rebuild from the ground up, taking into account and balancing the needs of all: society, the children, and the truly dedicated teaching professionals that, far too often these days, are unrecognized for the yeoman's work that they do day in and day out. We are all responsible. We will continue reap what we sow. It's about time that we all come together like rationally thinking adults and get this thing fixed. Because, if not now, when?
As a public high school Physics teacher for many years I can say the the ineffectiveness of the public schools in the U. S. is our biggest national security issue!
Janet, as an experienced public school educator, where do you see the system's primary problems? What do you think are the solutions are? BTW, when you said you were a high school physics teacher, I had a flashback! Please don't take this personally, but my physics teacher was terrible !! Really, he was the high school basketball coach, who for some reason taught the physics class, clearly didn't have mastery of the material (we were constantly correcting him). Well, he's long sinced retired. Hope there aren't many like him among your colleagues ! Lord knows this country needs all the bright and dedicated physics teachers (as well as, other science and math teachers) that we can attract to our nations high schools . . . Lastly, I recall that my year long physics class was an elective (should have been mandatory for all!). Is it still that way?
Damn she's ugly!
Keep your rude comments to yourself. Beauty liea within. Helping children is a beautiful trait.
Wouldn't it nice if all the campain funding giving to our poiticians by the corporations was also matched and given to our public schools?
Schools spend too much money on things they shouldn't. They should pay for quality teachers, books and computers and a clean, safe location to learn in. Instead money goes to free food, several meals a day, and supplies that should be paid for by the parents. I took a bag lunch to school, a PB&J and an apple. Before the howling starts, that lunch costs less than a dollar, 20% of what school lunches cost the state apiece, and it was perfectly healthy and made by my own mother in about 30 seconds, and yes she had a job so don't get that pity party going either. Southern California schools are a failed experiment in social engineering. Sadly instead of fixing it people just do more of the same and make it worse.
The high school where I teach has 80 percent of its kids on free or reduced lunch. They eat breakfast and lunch at school and then do not eat again until they get there for breakfast the next day. Our school serves lunch to the free lunch students through the summer because for many of them it is the only meal they will see. Many of my students hate weekends and only show up to school each and every day even if sick because it is their source of food.
Now, I think it is wonderful that you had a hard-working mom who spent that little bit of extra time to make sure that you had something to eat at school, and yes, in a perfect world every child in this country would have the same. Unfortunately, this is not the case.
Before you get up in arms, I realize that some of this may fall on the parents, and if they were more responsible or less absent, this could be fixed, and in some cases that may be true, but I am not prepared to punish the students for this. Every child deserves to eat and be safe from hunger.
How pathetic is this statement? The only meals that these children will see in a day come from the free breakfast and lunch served at the school. Where are the concerned and outraged parents? Why is it that the only time they become concerned are when these free daycare services are threatened?
Schools are for education. They are not soup kitchens. They are not orphanages. The parental expectation that all of a childs needs(education thru social welfare) will be met through the public school system are unreasonable and responsible for gross over expendatures and poor educational quality. Schools are not an alternative to parental support but a means to provide the educational tools to thrive.
Very inciting piece of work. I support your suggestion.
Why don't we pay doctors based upon how many of their patients get sick each year, and law enforcement officers based upon how many crimes are committed in their area, or teachers on how well their students perform on a Test? Oh, wait we already do that to teachers. So when are we going to start with the other two groups? Judging someone based upon what other people do is wrong!
right on!
Now we have the teaching profession "teaching to the test" instead of teaching ALL the skills needed at each grade level. We have kids graduating (about 75% make it to graduation) without having the skills they need for life, let alone college. It's why we now rank 26 and 35 in the world in math and science. Teaching to a test for pay doesn't solve any problems, but has created more "learning disabled" children. Students don't have the skills necessary to pass these tests, then unwarrented and unnecessary labels are put on them, because districts don't want to take on the responsibility for failing. Labels in turn give school district more money from the Federal government to aid "handicapped" children and cause these now "special needs" children to fail due to poor self image. School failure is put on the children, then schools capitalize on it.
sounds like a classroom in here
Thanks for the upbeat, encouraging statements about my occupation. Well, back to grading tests and planning lessons for the upcoming week. I wish I could just sit back and relax on my weekends like other people.
You can. Find another job if you are so miserable.
If we all left, who would teach? Its not the good teachers who leave their work at the "office".
Can we fire parents?
Seriously. I can tell you the difference, 98% of the time, between a passing student and a failing student. That difference is the parent. I know, I know, you didn't want to hear the truth. It is easier to blame the teachers because they are the ones who are supposed to be waving the magical education wand over the kids head. You know the wand we all possess that magically makes kids understand everything in the one hour we see them for the subject we teach. What, you didn't know about the magic wand?
You know the magic wand that is supposed to give very kid knowledge while they sit in class and do nothing. The wand that is supposed to make not doing homework and studying turn into complete understanding of an objective. The wand that is supposed to make bad behavior disappear by politely asking. The wand that is supposed to make parents give a crap. The wand that people who have never taught, though they feel like they can discuss it like an authority on the matter, thinks exist.
I hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but it does not exist. Shocking right?
Yep, I know what you're thinking now. You're thinking all these things happen because I am a horrible teacher. I must be, right? Great teachers have a command of their classrooms. Great teachers teach everything and the students get it in an hour. Yes, this does happen in schools where most parents give a crap. In schools where the students don't get a healthy dose of "teachers are horrible" or " nobody is going to tell me what to do" or "why did you fail me", it doesn't. In schools where students don't miss 20+ days of school, that happens. In schools where students come in with with discipline and work ethic, that happens. In schools where teachers don't have to try to undo 7 years+ of unhealthy lifestyles that have been embedded in a child's psyche, that happens. And even within those schools, the students who succeed are the ones whose parents actually give a crap, and I mean the ones that really give a crap and not just give lip service in a meeting. Not the parent that comes to school and claims that teachers are horrible even though their student does no homework, does not study, and does not pay attention in class. Not the parent that can't tell you what their child is learning this week even though teachers constantly send home a summary of the week's objectives, how to work at home with the student, the homework that will be assigned, and examples of how to do the problems/work with the students(which is me trying to help the parent so they can help teach their child at home). Not the parent that only shows up after weeks of weekly test grades, weekly individual progress/grade/behavior sheets, and countless phone calls/emails, because now, NOW, their child is in trouble. Forget all the prevention that was tried, the contact that was being made or all the evidence that was presented building up to the incident/culmination of the course the student. No, no, no....I'm just a bad teacher. I just can't teach. I am just there collecting my undeserved paycheck.
I can teach. I am a damn good teacher. I create lesson plans that touch on the different levels, as well as the different learning styles, of my students. They can choose to take a traditional test, write a report, create a powerpoint, write and record a song, make a play, make a video, or even come up with their own way of showing me that they have an understanding of the objectives we are studying. Now, this is the stuff that we are told works because students are engaged and not just sitting in a desk writing. However, I still have students that won't do anything? My fault? Absolutely not, but I already talked enough about them. What about those that do these things and still fail your "oh so wonderful" standardized tests. My classes routinely falls slightly above my districts average. We aren't at the top and we aren't at the bottom. I constantly pull my hair out wondering why these students don't score higher after I get my butt chewed that not everyone in my class scores the top score. I see them do it. The ones who do, get it. The ones that don't, don't. It is that simple. My class's score gets brought down because of two things: 1. the students that don't participate in their education. 2. Those stupid, horrid, abominations of tests.
I'm encouraged to differentiate my assessments to make sure every student is engaged and participating in their learning style. However, the powers that be, decide that there will be only one way, one test to determine how effective I am, as well as how much progress a student is making. Anyone should be able to see that the two styles do not, and will never, compliment each other. How can a student who has been creating powerpoints or making comic books to show understanding be expected to sit in a seat and answer questions on a test that was made by adults who a) can't remember what it was like to be a kid sitting in those desks, b)are making questions to outsmart themselves, and c) are not using any of the methods teachers use in their classrooms? The knowledge should translate, but the method of testing can throw the students off. I agree we need to have students who can think critically, but those tests questions are just alien. I'm sorry but even if you are average in math and you have never seen a question presented in the way they are asking you are already being set up for failure. There needs to be a better way. Not easier or dumbed down, just better.
I'm going to wrap this up because I feel like I am just babbling now.
Education only works if you have all three parties are participating. I know people don't want to hear that because they feel bad blaming the kids, but it is the ugly truth. That is a big problem in our society right now, blaming others and not looking inward first. Believe me, I have looked inward every year I have taught. I give my all. 95% of my students who give it their all have great success. The ones that don't have great success after giving their all have something called pride that they can hang their hat on and without a doubt, I know one day they will find that thing that they will have success with and they will take it to great places. The ones that don't give their all, but give a good effort, I try to inspire them to find something that they want and go for it, but a little hard work in school will help them get it easier and more doors are opened the better an education you have. Those that don't, I just keep plowing ahead, trying to inspire, trying to help them find that thing, that one thing that just might break the cycle. Unfortunately, I have more who do not in my class than those who do. The ones that do can talk about and know the subject matter, but do not do well on standardized tests.
I truly believe that you teach students how to think and not just memorize. However, memorization has its place in education. I would love to say that life is like a movie where a teacher comes into a bad situation, there is a montage, and then viola, every passes and there is an uplifting scene at the end of the movie....it just doesn't happen that way all the time. My first group of students is now in high school. When they come back and thank me, or tell me that a teacher was impressed with how much they knew when they got there they thank me, but I just tell them they did all the work, I just gave them the tools.
But, remember, I am one of those bad teachers that standardized test scores are about to get canned. I know what you are thinking. It is my fault. I'm not as good as I think I am. I must be bad if I'm about to get sacked. That is simply not true. Because, you see, that was me two years ago. As of last year I am at a private school where parents pay to send there children to school. Where it is the student that the parent holds responsible for bad grades. There are real consequences for bad behavior. I still teach the same way. I won Teacher of the Year and my classes scored the highest on their standardized tests in the state. The only thing I see different is the parents....
So, once again, can we fire parents.....
While your speech was a liitle soap boxish I think you are right on regarding parent responsibility and student sucsess. Also, thank you for caring enough to stick wih education and abandoning the burocratcy that I think most people posting are really frustrated with. I would like to get your responses to a few thoughts.
1. This article is about money, and it states that lack of money is the reason for chester's failure. I don't believe that any sum of money can compensate for poor parenting so once a school is funded to around the national average, spending more on failing kids is money down the drain.
2. I would be willing to bet that your private school has lower per student costs than the failing public school you left.....not always the case but it hold true most of the time. How are you paid at your new school and have any of your former coworkers thought about joining you.
3. I think most of the people making coments from the parents perspective on this site are just frustrated because they done feel like they have any control over their childrens education. For the people who care but don't have the money for private school, I think vochers would help them regain control and make them feel more engaged. I think having that power would not only help end round the bureaucracy you and they complain about but also demand from those parents more involvement.
Like I said, I actualy would like to hear your thoughts as a educator who left public school.
Vouchers are a mistake. Vouchers assume that the school and teachers are solely at fault for the "score" they get. You tell the parents, it isn't your fault and you still don't have to do anything if you drop them off here at "school x". It feeds into the whole "don't try harder your child will magically get an education at this other school" idea. That isn't the case. See the whole point, soapbox-ish or not, I was making is that teachers bust their humps to teach but if effort isn't made by student or parent then it will never show in "scores". Vouchers are just a politicians way to say "see I'm doing something so you don't have to...Now vote for me because it isn't your fault."
My pay is better at my new school. I was recruited to work at my new school after the administration was pointed to my website and saw all the things I did with my students. So while my peers did not follow me, the rest of the staff is largely made up of ex-public school teachers.
I know the article was about money, but my soapbox was meant more for some of the people that are replying to this article. My former district mismanaged money for years. Now they, just like most other districts, are misdirecting the attention from them to the "horrible" teachers. See nobody talks about them and their crappy contracts and trips to wonderful "place x" for educational research "wink wink". No they cry Maude Flanders cry of "will somebody think of the children"...and the suckers buy it hook, line, and sinker. Do we have a lower cost per pupil? I don't know. I don't have to ask here. We have parents that will donate things, offer to buy things, I constantly have at least 15 parents a week asking me to volunteer to do something for me. The parents organize fundraisers for supplies or needs. So maybe it really isn't about the money, but more about the community coming out to support the school and its teachers. Now think if all parents did this. What about instead of attacking our schools we rally around them. I know, you must teach at a school full of rich students....I don't. I just teach at a school where parents give a crap and are will to act to help, and not criticize and attack.
One last thing, the parents...... Your comment about parents just not feeling they are in control of their children's education is exactly what they are being fooled to think. A child's education should begin at home at the earliest age possible. You don't just wait until your child enters school. But hey, it isn't their responsibility. The school is responsible for my child's education. No parent ever, ever looks at how the districts spend their money. And when a teacher does it, these comments are what she gets. Don't you think that if a teacher really got all that money per student that they wouldn't have everything they needed to teach? No most of it is lost paying bloated contracts for materials and other things. In order for me to spend a grant that I had won I had to, HAD TO, go through their contracted computer supplier. If I had bought the computer from a retail store it would have cost me roughly $400. However, their supplier charged $1300. So that is how much they spent per computer that they bought......disgusting.
P.S. A soapbox speech is often needed to inspire and encourage students. So, if that was a dig at me I actually take pride in it.
Well said. Took the words right out of my mouth! If Johnny comes to my class with an IQ of 50, how in the WORLD do you expect him to pass a standardized test he can't read, and have the audacity to blame me? No, have him take a test the goes along with his IEP, and see how well he does then. Every child can learn, but every child might not learn the same way, or on the same day. It is what it is.
HEY SARA: What Do You Do The Other 3 Months?
Probably what I and most other teachers do...continue to work.
I live with a teacher and the answer is teach summer school, work a roofing job, or work a landscaping job.
Try this link instead:
Bringing this forward because I think it is so good with all the teacher haters out there:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU&w=420&h=315%5D
I Dislike The Many Incompetant Leachers (Union Teachers) Who Are Sucking The Stated Dry!
You're a fool. Why don't you try managing a roomful of people displaying extreme cases of non-adult, childlike behavior and see how things go. Teachers do the job that must be done ,that can't be done by most people. You're a fool, fool.
Hard to believe, from your posts, that you ever paid any attention to a teacher.
I think everyone in the comments so far is just trying to shift blame to someone else. It's pathetic, really. Everyone is a part of this.
I don't have any children. How am I a part of this?
I don't live in any VILLAGE.
Take the salary of the President and all Government officials and take all the money from welfare and food stamps and put it towards our schools. Problem solved.
Throwing money at the problem is not going to solve it – it's been tried before. The problem is how to get knowledge into the heads of kids that care more about social status with their peers. Money doesn't make people intelligent. Lot's of people win the lottery and are then flat broke a year later.
I know that. I was being sarcastic, being the right wing conservative hatemonger that I am!
Oh yeah. Problem solved! Because we all know that children living in grinding poverty with nothing to eat and nothing to wear will definitely make excellent students.
well, the financial problem would be aussaged, but the cultural problem, why generations of children are becoming increasingly dumb, would continue unabated.
And these comments are exactly why teachers will never be paid like they should. Nice going.
you must be kidding,
Widener university, Cheney college and Cabrini college are not really tier 1 or 2 schools to begin with so don't value much in what she says. Plus education graduate degrees are non thesis non rigorous just come to class after work and pay tuition and you get a degree programs for the most part.
That's your argument? "Oh, she didn't graduate from a school like Yale, so let's not listen to her."
I'm going to dismiss YOUR statements because I now have a prejudice that people from Kalamazoo aren't very bright.
haha! I appreciate the chuckle 🙂
Kalamazoo? What do you know about anything, growing up in a bassackwards town like that. This person is tiers above you Karl. There are many Intelligent who are not, nor do they aspire to be, rich. Consequently they cannot afford the $50,000 top tier schools. This women deserves better from you, man. This this country going dumb, like you Karl.
Implying that this teacher's degrees in education are inconsequential in order to discredit his/her argument is a neanderthal-level approach to things. it's just too easy to glibly dismiss someone by discrediting them rather than confront their position on the intellectual level their arguments merit.
She went to expensive schools for her education in reality; and, all she is getting a poor school teacher job.
This woman is teaching math with degrees in Psychology? No wonder the school is failing its children.
Her primary degree (Masters>Bachelors) is in elementary education, a curriculum which covers the range of elementary to middle school subjects that MOST adult Americans should have no problem remembering. The testing qualifications many teachers have to meet in order to be certified in an area of study are very stringent, at least in Florida. Furthermore, her degrees in elementary education make her MUCH more qualified to teach math and literature to children, than someone with Doctorates in either subject, something that's made painfully obvious in any college classroom: even most professors readily admit that being a great mathematician doesn't make you a great math teacher.
So try your hand at teaching, or put your ignorance away.
Thank you. By reading stupid posts like his you see how it is apparent that our American schools have failed many years ago. With no baseline for state tests that old, we can only assume we are actually succeeding.
No wonder the GOP uses whistle-blowing, pandering, race-baiting techniques to garner their support. Their little tent is held up by uneducated fools without the ability to reason.
Feel free to refer your complaints to your school's customer service department.
The writer has a great face for radio!!
You'll get yours, ***hole.
Communities that cannot support their schools, should shut them down.....I know that busing is unpopular but that would be the least expensive...the plus would be for the students.
Like Chernobyl, right?
Accurate statement! Stop supporting schools with no chances of success!
I hope this slave person will pay back her student loans before asking taxpayers to subsidize her retirement.
How ignorant are you?
This woman is better than you in so many ways. You're a real loser and your mom will one day disown you as she tells you to get out.
I have read many comments on here about accountability. I have no trouble being accountable but when are we going to make the parents accountable? I can not make a child do their homework, I can't make a child go to bed before 2 am, and I can't make a child care about whether they behave in class or not. I have students that disrupt my class and make it so that the kids that are there to learn, can not learn. I call the parents and they just put it back on the school instead of the child. Hold me accountable but it is time to get back to the basics of discipline and respect and then you can hold me accountable.
Even I agree that your comment has credibility. Schools need to focus on their true problems, instead of boards, and administrators wasting time on such nonsense as zero tolerence, which goes completely against the whole basis of education where every situation, and child, is different and should be handled accordingly. Punishing someone who brings a plastic picnic knife to school, the same as someone with a hunting knife is ludicrous!
Schools need to focus on educating!
One bad teacher can damage HUNDREDS of children. One bad parent can damage their own kids.
If you are a good teacher, try your best and get through to as many kids as possible. But PLEASE – don't ask us to put up with bad teachers because of all the many teachers who try, bust their butts, buy supplies on their own dime, stay late.
I had an AP teacher who said I never made up work, yet I was there before school for three weeks making up lab work I missed due to illness. He gave me a D for that quarter. I got a 5, highest AP exam grade, on the test. It is not test scores that are the problem, but teachers who demoralize kids. With working parents, we are lucky to be with our kids for 4 hours when they are awake. Teachers have them 6 hours per weekday.
Don't make your competence, or excellence for that matter, make our children put up with damaging teachers because of tenure protection. You owe it to yourself to rid your profession of the worst, and properly compensate the best.
Actually, we have them for roughly 40 minutes a day.
So , I guess you know about being an educator because you went to school? I'm sorry that you had a bad teacher (and bad teachers should be fired), but please don't presume to know anything about teaching if you have not done it. I wonder if you know how to be a doctor because you've gone in for check ups?
Interestingly enough, after rereading all the comments, and responses, from those claiming to be teachers, not a single one advocates for accountability, effectiveness, performance, or places any responsiblity for the results on the teachers! Only money can solve the problem!
You don't get it. How can our educational system and its employees be accountable for a "product" that is not tangible, is not perfect, and is not in any way consistent? As it's been said time and again, kids are not "widgets", and if educators do not have the funding to meet the needs of PEOPLE, if the system itself is so underfunded that the resources are not available to meet the myriad needs of PEOPLE, and if those PEOPLE themselves do not have a vested interest in equality in education, when funding is based upon zip code and is not equitable, how can teachers be held accountable when at every turn, they are NOT GIVEN THE RESOURCES TO DO THEIR JOBS IN AN INHERENTLY INEQUITABLE SYSTEM? Our educational system is broken, not by the decisions and actions of educators, but by the limitations and demands placed upon it by our society.
Sorry, but it is you that doesn't get it! Schools are not, and were never meant to be, everything to everybody! Schools need to stick to their purpose of educating! I understand that government, and politicians have had a lot to do with schools being sidetracked from their true purpose, but that doesn't change the fact that more money does not result in a better educated populace. The system needs to be changed. Any change that leaves accountability, and performance out of the system, at every level, is destined to fail!
throwing more money at anything makes it better. everone knows that. the more capital you have the more resources you have . that means it's easier to do your job. That is the basic foundation of capitalism. sorry but that's the system you all like. that's just how it has to be.
When I first read this art cal I was inclined to take it at face value. However, after some research, I have learned that this teacher is full of it. The I live in a DES moines suburb similar in size to the Chester upland distrct. Our schools are highly rated with a a wide range on extracurricular actvities and class options. Our per pupil spending is ~$8500' and our overall school rating is 9/10. Chester's per pupil spending is $12850 and their average school rating is 2/10. The are spending 50% more then our school district and are failing horribly. This is not a problem of funding and this teacher is passing the buck.
Another comment that sees through the smoke!
I iove the MONEY ,DON't stop funding our retirements, that 's what she's saying.BS,IT's a free country to work where you can,stop BEGGING FOR MONEY>
if all the teacher left that area would you teach the children?
You are still comparing apples (Iowa) to oranges (Pennsylvania). Every state and every community allocates and funds education differently. Depressed areas cannot generate the local funds (taxes) that more affluent areas can. States manipulate education budgets and it all leaves struggling areas further behind. Please – what is done in your community and state is NOT what happens everywhere.
The tired raving about accountibility has ignored every educator's plea for just that, but with a level playing field. I am absolutely accountable for what I stand and deliver in my class, but I cannot account for lost instructional time when students are absent, for behavior problems, for uninvolved parents, for comparisons between schools that ignore the impact of resources. Affluent districts simply have more – especially they can afford more support staff, the assistants that can work in classrooms to help struggling students or to help accelerate advanced students.
Well said!
I empathize with your coments regarding absenteeism and associated issues. However, your comments regarding funding don't hold water. The funding for the our schools is the total funding from all sources, state, local, and federal, and that comes to $8500/student. This is no screcret fund where there are extra millions pumped into the rich kids. The total funds for Chester are $12800/student. That most of that districts funding is from the state level doesn't change that in order for their to be an "even playing field" with regard to funding, Chester needs to send $2000/student our way.
Have you ever been to Chester Upland District? Does your suburb have the same level of poverty that this district does? Is the cost of living in your area of Iowa the same as the cost of living outside of Philadelphia (this I know for a fact is not true). I have been there and I know teachers who have worked there. You know where that "extra" $2000 per student is going? To pay for free breakfasts and lunches and supplies for students whose families cannot afford them. To pay for after school activities to keep students off the streets and out of the local gangs. It doesn't just have to do with the size of the district, it has to do with where the district is and what the local economy is like.
Unfortunately, poverty stricken areas will always suffer. This has as much to do with the community as the school. Its about your tax base. If you don't have one, you won't be able to create a successful school district. I'm not casting blame on any group, just pointing out that the economy is to blame as much as anything. Get people working, and you'll improve your school funding.
As long as you believe school funding is the only answer, the problem will never be solved!
School funding has an effect, to a point, but is by, and far, not the solution to solving the problem.
For starters maybe kicking the teachers unions out on there azzes
Yes, that would likely encourage all the folks on the side-lines to try and get those teaching jobs once their pay, benefits, and job security are weakened! Well thought out. I never realized that the solution to the problems in public education were so simple.
Good teachers don't want bad teachers in the profession. The school board creates and agrees to the contract with areas that have unions. School board members should blame themselves if they have a contract that prevents removing bad teachers. There are evaluating systems for administrators to use in order to discover bad teachers and help them become good. If that doesn't work then fire them. It takes a lot of time and money to train good teachers. However, many administrators aren't doing their job and bad teachers never get the training or help. Many states don't have unions.
That point, one of the strongest in this debate (imo), is always ignored. If the rich make a million off of a business deal because they negotiated a successful agreement then they're lauded. I make this argument all the time. I'm not even in public education anymore and i still push this argument. Teaching in a private school, i'll sit down and negotiate my own contract. The school can't offer more than they can afford to pay. If they do, it's not MY fault. How's that for accountability?
Michael, the teachers union has nothing to do with the provisions of these contracts? The school boards volunteer to insert these "non-firing" provisions?
Are teachers unions not made up of teachers? Do teachers unions not represent the teachers at their request? Do teachers have zero say in their own union matters?
These provisions are entered into solely because the majority of teachers demand them! If they didn't, they wouldn't exist!
Eric, in a private school setting you are 100% correct. If they pay more than they can afford, it is their fault. Public schools are completely different since both sides are negotiating with other people's money!
What contracts have 'no-firing' clauses, Steve from Illinois? Are you serious? Have you seen this or are you repeating something someone sent to you in an eMail?
I work under a contract that requires my evaluation EVERY YEAR. If I fall short, I am put on a plan for improvement. If I can't get it together after that, I can be non-renewed. That is contract speak for let go or fired. This process involves a huge amount of work from the evaluation to the series of observations, to intense conversations about what the TRUE deficiencies are and how to improve performance. My contract demands that both the teacher and the administrator work together and be professional. It removes the specter of nepotism that is rampant in other business realms and creates a clear and fair process. If after all of this I still can't hack it, I don't get another contract.
Throwing more money at education is wrong. The system is broke. Money won't fix it. Accountability for once will. Fire the bad teachers. The dems are great for no accountability. blame everything on the 1%. Guess what people, look in your own closet.
So, Joe, what makes a bad teacher? My students might say I am because I am mean. Yes, I hold them to some standards like getting work in on time and assigning detention for behavior issues.
Based on test scores, this year I am a great teacher. Last year, I was not. Student abilities ebb and flow.
So, am I good or bad? Tell me, Joe, for I need to know!
Lets toss out a wild idea. Every year the Teachers vote on their own members. The one I know always talk about who is great at motivating kids, who is a truly learned person, who is a goof off, who is biased and unfair, etc. OK, I tossed, the rest of you bat it around.
It is time we all start working together to find a solution. Blame only incites us to inflict pain on each other until we are chasing our tails not a solution. Start attending your local school board meetings and you will soon see that educators have never been in control of the funding or testing process. Parents and educators need to become partners not enemies and demand that the legislators of our states and country save our children's future before it is too late!
Who designs the tests? A mechanic? Truck driver? The local manager at Wal-Mart??
These tests are designed by educators! You have your own peers in the field of education to blame for what's on the test!
Wrong! Many of the people who write the standardized tests have never stepped foot into a classroom as a teacher, or haven't done so in many, many years. Just as our school board members are made of non-teachers...instead the board is made of local businessmen and women who know nothing about teaching children. These people make decisions that affect our children and our education system based on what they perceive as "educational", when in reality they run the district like a business, which is the worst way to treat a child's education. Do not blame the teachers...most of the teachers I know work so hard and put hundreds of dollars of their own money to buy supplies for their class and students who can't otherwise afford them. The other problem is parents...they seem to think that they can leave their child at school and dust their hands of any responsibility at home. So many problems...we are producing a nation of undereducated children and most of the blame is not on teachers.
Google the test, see who designed it, almost every one will hold a PHD in education.
Come on, Steve. . . You sound like a smart guy, but you are missing a BIG issue here. There are multi-million dollar industries out there trying to get fingers into public Ed money. They create the tests, the texts, AND they are the ones lobbying Congress about the failure of schools. These same corporations are seeking to open charter schools, the are pushing vouchers. . . All to get that money. If you think for a moment they really care about your kids and their education, you have eagerly donned their rose colored goggles.
This whole movement is about creating a MARKET. And it sounds to me like you are buying it all. They are seeking to profit from your tax money, on the backs of your kids.
Steve gets all his information from Google. That's why he's constantly misinformed.
This woman pushes education, however, she has it somewhat wrong. Education is important, but restarting our economy is needed to be able to afford it. Clinton had it right: Its the economy, stupid.
To: "Steve-Illinois"
Shut the hell up. Your posts reveal your stupidity. What changes do you suggest that would have any bearing on the classroom? I've heard your kind of GOP-style criticism of public education before. And yet NO ONE, Repub or Dem can offer suggestions that are in the best interest of children, or go to the root(s) of the problem: among them are poverty, mandatory budget/program cuts, underage/uneducated parents, language barriers, and unfair/non-standard testing practices.
Shut the hell up? God help us if you're a teacher! Solutions you want? How about some accountability anywhere in the educational system? How about good teachers standing up publicly in an effort to get poor teachers removed from classrooms? Since we have the most expensive educational system in the world, and nowhere near the most effective, how does throwing more money at it make it better? In Illinois, over a 18 year period, 18 teachers were fired by school districts for poor performance. 18! Out of over 100,000! These firings cost the school districts over $200,000 each, on average, to process! This must be the most competent work force since the beginning of mankind! Anytime, anyone, tries to place any kind of accountability on our education system, the outcry from teachers, and administrators, is deafening! You can't judge a childs learning by testing, yet every teacher tests their students! Teachers and their unions fight against random drug testing! Why? Why is it unnecessary to require those we entrust our children with are not abusing drugs, yet truck drivers are required to submit to random drug tests? As far as "unfair testing" goes, what is the response to these highly educated professionals? They immiediately start a process commonly referred to as "teaching to the test." How about effectively teaching the subject so students can pass the test!
"Shut the hell up!" What a highly educated response to criticism that is!
I am a teacher (seventh graders, 18 years in the classroom). Are you an educator? My guess is you are not. You spout off about all these changes that need to be made, yet you have no idea how the system really works. Administrators and school boards (i.e., the bosses) do not want change or innovation. They just want to move the kids in and move them back out, year after year. The few parents who do care are pretty much powerless, too. This country stopped caring about real education decades ago.
Again, you're making assumptions based on your feelings and half-truths you've absorbed as if they were facts. What makes you think teachers object to drug tests? Have you actually talked to a high school teacher who refuses to be tested? If you know of any druggie teachers, why aren't you turning them in to their schools?
What makes you think that good teachers like having bad teachers a colleagues? I've never, in the history of teaching in the US, have heard of a single teacher that had the ability to fire an inept colleague. That's the admin's job and there are plenty of mechanisms to do so. In my non-union state all the upper admin has to do is simply dissolved the job and not renew the contract. This is done EVERY year to hundreds of teachers across the state. If you look at the number of disputed firings, where a teacher is let go during the contract year for cause, yes, you'll see very few. But the numbers of teachers who look for their next year's contract in the mail in April and it's not there....they've been fired. They are told their job no longer exists, they're taken off the books and in August there is a sudden realization that yes, we really do need 10 English teachers, not nine and a new teacher is hired. That's the way the system works and to say that inept teachers are not fired as easily and as often as they are in any government job is nonsense. A teacher is MUCH more easily let go than any fireman, government DPS worker, or policeman because of our yearly contract system.
" you can't judge a childs learning by testing". Please oh sage one, do tell us how you would. The Force? Testing isn't the problem. Teaching just enough to pass it, is. That statement exposes your own lack of a grasp of the problem. You seem to have plenty to say, yet you don't seem to be saying anything. When I read what you write, Charlie Brown's teacher comes to mind. Maybe that's what education was like for you.
Do your homework, Stevie. May I suggest reading The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch? Visit her website or watch her speeches on youtube. It will seriously open your eyes. Your point-by-point criticism of public schools and educator accountability is revealed for what it actually is. CRAP. You are simply regurgitating GOP talking points. Impressive how you can be so verbose on subjects of which you have simply zero understanding.
Steve...your last name MUST be McCarthy if I expect teachers to do something about co-workers. Red Scare!!! If they are truly good teachers, they are working their reat-ends off with their own students and their own subject matter rather than standing with a cup to the wall looking for bad teachers!
Steve-Illinois holds dated ideas that are common among the teacher-bashing set. He thinks that all public school teachers are like The Beaver's Miss Landers, sweet but clueless young things that sit up front and lecture to 25 fresh-faced, well-fed, self-disciplined, intact-family third graders who all sit at desks with their hands crossed. Just saying that makes me laugh.
He thinks that teachers start school at 9 and go home at three and never look back. In reality, I start school at 7:30 and leave at 5:30 and then spend at least another 15 hours during the week and weekends grading and planning. Good lessons customized for your class don't come out of thin air. He also thinks that we have summers off, but doesn't realize than in every non-union state like mine the school year has expanded while the pay has not. My school year starts weeks before the kids go back and many days they're off, I'm working. I figure that after mandatory training that I must take on my own unpaid time and lesson planning, I end up with about 2 to 3 weeks of vacation time. After 15 years of his job, my husband gets more time off than I do.
He talks of teachers being clueless about "real work" and that we don't know what it's like in the "real world" as if we're Martians. Every teacher has friends, relatives and spouses who live on the Planet Earth and are well acquainted with what "real work" is. Actually a lot of teachers, most in my high school, come to teaching from other professions. I started at age 40. In my area, a lot come after they retire from the military (and who all say teaching is harder, to a man). The teachers that start at 22 usually had jobs to get them through college. The upper class doesn't send their kids to be teachers, so most teachers come from lower and working class families. We know what the "real world" is like and we know what other professions are out there.
He also assumes that the higher salaries on the east coast are the same salaries that the rest of the nation get. Teaching is not like being in the army. A teacher doesn't get the same pay no matter where they teach, unlike an army sergeant. The starting salary, by law, in Texas is 27K. There are a LOT of teachers in Texas who make that, especially in the rural areas.
There are a million reasons why people go in to teaching, but in the end, there's only one reason they stay in teaching and that's because they feel that the low pay, the disrespect, the long hours are worth the importance of the mission.
This is a very well thought response to an individual who puts little true thought into their own comments.
FYI, Illinois isn't on the east coast. Now that you've explained how "grueling" a job it is, how does paying the same tenured teachers more money solve it? Take a gander at Illinois teacher salaries, (you can google it) and show me how higher paid teachers has produced better results?
Steve, the argument about teachers earning money is highlighting the problem. How can you argue that we pay teachers too much at the same time you are arguing that better people need to do the job? Seems like such great, well compensated jobs would attract the best performers, would it not?
Tenure keeps that from happening since the best prospects have to wait for the tenured teacher to retire for the position to open up. Sometimes the teacher has "retired" years before they notified anyone of their intent.
P.S. Two years ago, an Ottawa,Il (pop 20,000) teacher retired making $125,000/yr. Retirement benefit $80,000. He taught drivers ed! Poor thing! Local elementary school district superintendent makes $110,000/yr, school has 150 students! Streator,Il just posted test scores for high school juniors in reading. 36% met or exceeded state standards. Headlines should be screaming 2 out of 3 flunked!
From 2006 to 2011, the district's student population declined 4,300 to 3,600 (-16%), however, the number of district employees increased from 590 to 720 (+22%), furthermore the district's operating budget inceased from $83 million to $114.million (+37%). Education IS very important. As such, we should insure that our tax dollars are effectively managed and wisely spent. Looking at the numbers above, while certainly not the whole story, does give an impression that the district's financial situation is not being properly managed. All too often it seems, when a local school district is insolvent, the first battle cry is too "save" our schools and secure additional funds or tax revenue. While sometimes this is indeed required, it should not be done until, absolutely, the districts finances are fully scrutinized, hard decisions made, and the school board and district management put under a microscope and held accountable.
I believe that most teachers honestly want to do a good job. I further believe that a great teacher is worth their weight in gold and should be compensated accordingly. But mostly I believe generally, and specifically regarding how we "do" education in this country, that our country has been walking down the wrong road for some time without a map. We need to tear down our existing system and totally rethink and rebuild from the ground up, taking into account, and balancing the needs, of all: society, the children, and the truly dedicated teaching professionals that, far too often these days, are unrecognized for the yeoman's work that they do day in and day out. It's about time that we all come together like rationally thinking adults and get this thing fixed. If not now, when?
My Two Cents, that comment is spot on! According to your figures that is a 5-1 employee to student ratio, and the problem is the school doesn't have enough money!
The state of our economy dictates that more hard times are just around the corner.
You have courage and I hope it holds up. Obama certainly is good at what he does; impress people
with good speech. That's how he got elected and he may just get another 4 year term, yet.
The bottom line deal is this; our government(and most of our middle class) are broke.
Sure, there are rich folks who will never see it from our view. When you have to struggle to
keep ends meet every month, that is the middle class blues. When we have to end this struggle,
that's when we lose hope. So keep your struggles up. Maybe we will get lucky and end up with
a savior(REMEMBER FDR). Until then, we need two things; belt tightening and more jobs for the masses.
Well said.
I think the focus has to return to the education that occurs at home. Parents need to not only value education but stop producing children if you don't have a 2-parent, financially stable environment with the time to help with learning to read initailly and then to help with school work. The drain on the school system is disfunctional and some energy must go toward smart kids who will have to pay taxes in the future.
Modern day slavery. this country can not get enough of forcing people to give up their labor for no pay.
Keep up the drama! This "crisis that never should have happened" is a "crisis" that never was!
Steve, closing your eyes won't make this go away.
This particular school performs poorly! Throwing money at it does not make the same teachers better, just paid better!
Why do you think that the teachers are poor teachers. You try teaching disadvantaged kids.
Why don't you try doing my job? Why? Because it is not the job you have chosen! If I wanted to teach kids, disadvantaged, or not, I would be teaching them! The whine "Why don't you try doing it!" is nonsense!
Teachers love to claim how they could make soooo much more money in the private sector, when the truth is, most teachers couldn't cut it in a system where they are actually held responsible for results, and pay is based on performance!
Steve-o, you're simply wrong. You're narrow-minded, likely selfish, and wrong. I've been in education for ten years. It's a career that I enjoy, I have a skill set for. People like you couldn't do it. I spent some time in the non-education private sector and did it well, also, But the mindlessness of it drove me back to the classroom. I now teach in a highly respected, well-funded private school. I love it. I would never return to the public schools. I have been in a district like the one described in this article. Despite your point of view, which is weak because you have no idea what it is like, these schools (the teachers in them) are set up to fail at the job they're trying to perform. I'll wrap this up for the sake of netiquette......but to say it again, you're wrong. More importantly, you're what is wrong with America.
I'm what's wrong with America, yet you state these schools are set up to fail, and money alone must be the only solution, since you offered no other ideas. I can say that I was very impressed by the innovative approach by our local high school when observing my nephew, a junior, doing his homework assignment, and the whole exercise consisted of coloring a picture! It wasn't an art class, it was U.S. history! Impressive!!!
Steve-Illonios. No Steve, I don't think you could be a teacher. Being a teacher requires a certain amount of open-mindiness and reasonableness to deal with the children. And before you flame on, I was a successful professional engineer for 25 years before I voluntarily went into a classroom; while the pay was not primary (there are other things in life besides money), it is necessary to get the best qualification. I ask you if you remember when police were so badly paid – you get what you pay for.
Yes, I see you base your entire perspective of what's wrong in the entire nation on your point of view of one experience. That's clear. Hence, my reference to your being narrow minded. In your example, that teacher should be doing much, much better things (assuming you have and are relaying the facts). You forget that there examples of poor performers in every field. I would argue that the proportion is equal in education and every other industry.
I do not base my view on one experience, this was merely an example! You know what an example is don't you? One of those things you, most likely, use daily in teaching!
you don't need a degree to teach a loser to count.let their assistants do it.this person is a joke , lots of DEGREES and her students are still failures.
I agree, but it is not just the government not supporting students; just look at your neighbors. Even before the recession taxpayers didn't value educating the youth in their own comunity. Now the taxpayers are strapped financially and the number of needy children is increasing at an alarming rate that can't be supported. It's a complicated problem that needs a mult-prong solution. Underpaying teachers will solve nothing. Increasing standards will help a little. Something has to change at the family level. The teachers need kids that haven't been handicapped by their home-environment.
This is nothing but a fluff story! Completely ignore the fact the teachers, and union, were aware there was zero chance they wouldn't get paid! Since the premise of the story is false, CNN is really reaching to fill it's content requirements!
Oh but they could have delayed payment and that is not a precedent that most unions would like established. The union took the high-road, plain and simple. Most teachers get into education because they actually like and care about children.
No different than when they chose to go on strike. They don't get paid while on strike, but when settled, the school year gets extended, end result, they lose no pay! The only ones harmed are the students! You can't make a "hero" out of someone for doing something they absolutely know they will get paid for!
Steve you are totally clueless,this area is poor and crime ridden,i would bet my life savings that you and people like you,wouldnt have the guts to even walk through this area once let alone work there,the problems they have are embedded in decades of poverty and a resistance to learning that has been handed down from previous generations...a mistrust of authority figures to lead them...so ...come on down and stand on Chester pike and spew your brand of stupidity..instead of hiding behind your keyboard and making assumptions based on your redneck views and conservative brainwashing.
Haha! Joe you are so right. Steve and many of the other posters should take a walkt through the streets of this school district, they wouldn't last two minutes. Steve, one question for you because you clearly don't know the whole story, how many weeks would you remain at your place of employment if your boss or employer told you you weren't going to get paid? How realistic would it be for you to actually stay in that job when you have bills to pay? I think the posted blog was not asking for a pity party, but saying exactly what "MyTwoCents" (who you agreed with) stated that there is a mismanagement of the money devoted to educational systems.
The union did the right thing to keep working without pay for awhile. You can't let down the children. I'll add that education starts at home though. The teachers can't make up for parent's who don't value education. Just popping out kids that you can't afford to feed and cloth doesn't help. If you don't have time to help educate your kids then you shouldn't have kids. Anyone can help their kids learn to read, spell, do elementary level math.
Unless the parents are illiterate or have a poor basic math background. In these instances, the parents can provide no assistance because what their children are learning is beyond their own capabilities.
Hmmm.... I relearned Algebra and Trig to help my teenager. I think that all but the truly learning-disabled parents can learn right along with their children at the elementary level. There is no excuse for most people and if they are truly not able to teach their children anything, they need a backup plan before popping out a bunch of kids. The point is that parents need to see education as part of their job as a parent and that has to be considered before reproducing.
Administrators always cut the classroom teacher when cuts have to be made instead of the extra garbage that could be cut. They know classroom cuts will be political. There are a lot of add-ons that could be cut instead of the classroom.
Agreed. Most teachers make barely enough to live on. Senior level teachers have benefits packages (primarily retirement) in many states that are unsustainable and outrageous. Administration too. And many systems are top heavy. Sadly, because those are the people who control the system, it will always be the affordable and hard working teachers at the bottom and mid-level, and the students, who suffer. Retirement should be eliminated before a single classroom teacher is let go. Upper level administrative and teacher pay should be reduced before a single teacher is let go. Statewide this would save so much money. Those who are in it for the wrong reasons will leave. And those who are left will be living in the same condition as the taxpayers who fund the school – and they are the ones who do things like those in the above story – decide to work for no pay. Good luck Mr. President! The unions have some true soul searching to do!
One woman got this whole thing right: "American education system is NOT about the children, its about the jobs of adults!" Nothing going to change this country is finished, When Obama asked Steve Job what can he do to get Apple move their factories back to US, Job said " those jobs are never comming back, because USA stop producing the workers they need." US population IQ drop every year, average American 50 pounds overweight, such population incapable of intense labor work. The most educated population in the world is a pure LIE, 85% of these high educated people got their degree in non-productive sectors such as business, law, art, social study and work as a useless clerks.
If you go to silicon valley half of them are Asians with working visa, most Americans who work there are not doing any technical works!
You seem to have trouble writing – with grammar and syntax. I guess you are your own Exhibit A?
But he or she is right. There are lots of news stories about how college graduates can't find jobs. But they do not tell us what those degrees are in. A degree in Fine Arts and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee. Same with Sociology, Women's Studies, Psychology, Voice, Venezuelan Studies (yes, I met one of these).
I work in a technical field, and, yes, many of my colleagues are Chinese and Indian. These are hard-working, well-educated people with technical degrees.
Steve Jobs was right.
She's definitely right and has better writing skills than most Americans.
I didn't even read the article. I came for the nose...
Bottom-feeders make rude comments like this in an attempt to appear better themselves.
Lets say the average person works 2,000 a year and makes $65,000. I calculated that I work about 1,850 hours a year at a minimum. This did not take into account the week-long trip we take or other weekend trips where you work 24 hours a day to make sure students aren't being stupid. So if I work even just 90% as much time as a regular job why is it unreasonable to ask for 90% of the pay. That would be about 58,000. Is that completely unreasonable? People see the holidays and make uninformed assumptions, but when you look at the working numbers, it is a lot closer than people give teachers credit for.


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Posted by Editor on 05/17/04
Shep Report
Hey y'all. Round two of the NORBA National series took place this weekend in Sonoma, California. Sounds exotic but really it was just a dusty, grass field with a speedway and some really nice washrooms (I'm serious, you could eat off those things). Day one consisted of an ammmmmazing cross-country course. Prepare for some sarcasm here. Looks like they pulled out the bulldozer the other day and cut us a extremely technical all double track course. What can you do? The race must go on. I guess Mother Nature was the one to blame because I swear the constant 30-mile an hour wind was only hitting me. Most racers voiced that same opinion so God wasn't out to get me. Managed to stay out of trouble for the first time this year. A bunch of the top Canucks were out of action this weekend including Seamus, Ryder, Rollie, Kabush and Toulouse....
JHK and Wells pinned it from the start with a few guys I don't know, then Swenson and I bridged to make it a group of five for a good few minutes before the original two took off again. With JHK a teammate, Swenson wasn't up for the chase so I took it upon myself for a lap before Rowney took charge as Brown and Trebron hooked onto us. The two guys I didn't know faded back as did Swenson when Trebron hit it. Surprise, surprise Wells was taken out by a broken chain while JHK managed to continue gapping and then taking victory in round about two hours. My untrained ass hit the wall hard with just over a lap to go and I fell off the Treb, Brown, Rown - train. Had a hard time with personal demons who kept saying, "Chris you are going so slow in the wind. Chris the wind is only on you. Chris why don't you slow down and take it easy. Chris it's been a rough bunch of months. Rest. Rest. Rest.". "STOP THAT", I yelled! Managed to hang on for dear life until the last few minutes when Carl Decker passed me for fifth. Brown attacked Mr. Solo-Rowney who had spent a great deal of time by himself as Trebron had his best ride ever for a fourth place spot.
Next day STXC. Once again the wind fiercely hammered the pro men but that wasn't much of an issue. The issue was the fact that people were using road bike on the 99% pavement course. That is not right due to the fact that this is a mtn bike race! Round and round we went with not much to talk about other than the fact that a group got away with Rowney, Wells, Me, Jacques-Maine, and Hestler doing the brunt of the work. A few crashes made us all realize that being in the front was the best gig...one to go and Mapel attacked from the back with me, Decker, Rowney, JM, Plaxton and Hestler in tow. Down to the last straight...four up sprint and four tenths separating Decker on a road bike in first, Mapel, Rowney, and me with Plaxton edging out Hestler for fifth. I was the only guy on the pode with a mtn bike tire on! Not very smart I guess. Off to Big Bear hopefully have an eventful road trip to make more of a story!
Out, Shep
Norba #2 Sonoma - Sonoma CA
Short Track
1. Carl Decker (USA) Giant-Pearl Izumi, 25:11
2. Frank Mapel (USA) Specialized, at 0:00.3
3. Paul Rowney (USA) Yeti, 0:00.6
4. Chris Sheppard (Can) Haro-Adidas, 0:00.8
5. Max Plaxton (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:01.19
6. Andreas Hestler (Can) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:01.41
7. Derek Wilkerson (USA) Specialized-Hillenbrand, 0:03.88
8. Todd Wells (USA) GT-Hyundai, 0:05.29
9. Barry Wicks (USA) Kona-Clarks Factory, 0:06.29
10. Brent Bookwalter (USA) Balance Bar-Devo, 0:27.66
27. Peter Wedge (Can) Kona Clarks, 1:15
1. Alison Dunlap (USA) Luna, 23:11
2. Kerry Barnholt (USA) Subaru-Gary Fisher, at 0:01.11
3. Jimena Florit (Arg) RLX Ralph Lauren, 0:01.36
4. Katerina Hanusova (Cze) Luna, 0:01.63
5. Melanie McQuaid (Can) Ford Cycling, 0:01.90
6. Dara Marks-Marino (USA) Ford Racing, 0:04.12
7. Gretchen Reeves (USA) Rocky Mountain-Business Objects, 0:04.34
8. Willow Koerber (USA) RLX Ralph Lauren, 0:04.50
9. Kathy Sherwin (USA) Cannondale, 0:04.80
10. Shonny Vanlandingham (USA) Luna, 0:05.14
Dual Slalom
1. Rich Houseman (USA) Sponsorhouse.com
2. Mike King (USA) Haro-Adidas
3. Eric Carter (USA) Mongoose-Hyundai
4. Mick Hannah (Aus) Haro-Adidas
1. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense
2. Jill Kintner (USA) Yeti
3. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis
4. Tara Llanes (USA) Giant-Pearl Izumi
Jeep King of the Mountains Standings
Dual Slalom
1. Mike King (USA) Haro-Adidas
2. Wade Bootes (Aus)Trek-Volkswagen
3. Mick Hannah,(Aus) Haro-Adidas
4. Brian Schmith (USA) Mongoose Hyundai
1. Katrina Miller (Aus) Jamis
2. Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) Intense
3. Jill Kintner (USA) Yeti
4. Melissa Buhl (USA) KHS
California Outdoor Sports Championships Sonoma CA
Supercuts Criterium
Pro 1/2 Men
1. Jackson Stewart (USA) Ofoto.Com/Lombardi Sports
2. Glen Mitchell (USA) Sierra Nevada
3. Mike Taylor (USA) Mcguire Pro Cycling Team
4. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Sierra Nevada
5. Zachary Walker (USA) Ofoto
Pro Women
1. Christine Thorburn (USA) Webcor
2. Felicia Greer (Can) Webcor
3. Karen Brems (USA) Webcor
4. Brenda Lyons (USA)
5. Kristin Drumm (USA) Morgan Stanley/Specialized/24 Hour Fitness
SwissPower Cup #5 Perrefite, Switzerland
1. Petra Henzi (Sui) Fischer - BMC, 1:43:00
2. Andrea Huser (Sui) Papival-BMC-DSR, at 0:37
3. Susan Haywood (USA) Trek/Volkswagen, 1:03
4. Anna Enocsson (Swe) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 1:58
5. Franziska Rothlin (Sui) Rocky Mountain/Business Object, 2:00
6. Nina Gohl (Sui) Denkhaus/Castellani, 2:24
7. Barbara Blatter (Sui) Specialized, 2:47
8. Daniela Louis (Sui) Thomus Bike Team, 5:30
9. Cecile Rode (Sui) Scott Allianz Michelin, 5:57
10. Elina Sophokleous (Gre) Bikin'Cyprus MTB TT, 7:38
12. Sarah Noble (Can) Rocky Mountain/Business Objects, 8:20
1. Jean-Christophe Peraud (Sui) Lapierre International, 1:41:04
2. Cedric Ravanell (Fra) Orbea, at 0:46
3. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Siemens Mobile Cannondale, 1:51
4. Philip Tavell (Swe) Multivan Merida Biking Team, 2:38
5. Kashi Leuchs (NZl) Bianchi Motorex, 3:45
6. Jochen Kass (Sui) Team T-Mobile, 3:57
7. Reto Manetsch (Sui) Athleticum MTB Team, 4:02
8. Frederic Frech (Sui) Univega Pro Cyling Team, 4:32
9. Yohann Vachette (Sui) Scott Allianz Michelin, 4:46
10. Julien Girard (Sui) X.O - Felt - Gonso, 5:01
May Track Camp Detroit MI
Courtesy Rob Good
The first in a series of track camps took place this past Saturday in Detroit. The camp was to prepare riders for the Ontario Track Championships & Junior Worlds Qualifying on the weekend of June 18-20th.
6 new track racers took to the boards on Saturday morning, each looking to learn as much as possible about the art of track riding & racing. Ontario coaches Steve Karpik & Don Andrews helped out local Detroit instructor Dave Young. After the first 5 laps the riders came off the track with Great Big Smiles, wondering why they had not given this a try before.
The Ontario riders were part of a group of 14 riders who came out to learn how to ride on the 45 degree banked turns. Through the Track 101 training, the riders were given a bike to use for the day, (which included racing in the afternoon). The quickest of the new riders was Taylor Martin out of Ancaster who turned some heads with a very fast 12.7 (sec) flying 200m at the end of the Clinic.
In the afternoon, a total of 9 Canadians battled the locals, in two ability-based divisions. The race events included Tempo, Team Pursuit, Scratch, Bavarian Win & Out ( I lucked into a 4th place finish), & a Points race. Detroit locals Ripp'n Ronnie & Dave Koesel, dominated the afternoon.
The next Track 101 camp will be held on Saturday June 5th. Riders of all ages are welcome, More information will follow.
Blizzard Bike Club Fort St. John BC
Courtesy Pat Ferris
May 16th
Tessa Bilodeau is cycling's new 'Queen of Spring' and Mike Hientzman is the new 'King of Spring' - both in a record time on the Montney-Upper Pine 41 km loop.
Alberta Provincial Champion Tessa Bilodeau's time of 1:12:31 was almost ten minutes faster than last years' record time of 1:21:12 hours, previously held by Tammy Howes. Barb Polehoykie was second with 1:18:57 and Lisa Verbisky 1:20:11 for third and Trisha Gladysz 1:29:08 for 4th spot.
Mike's time of 1:08:26 was 1:44 minutes faster than last years time of 1:10:10 hours held by the five-time winner, Robert Martens. Pat Ferris was second at 1:09:14 and Rod 'The Rocket' Lewis was third at 1:09:25 all past the previous record.
Twenty-one riders came out under ideal conditions, which is unusual for this event as the weather is usually cold. A pack of Mike Hientzman, Pat Ferris, Roger St. Jean and Tim Gladysz pulled away after the Pineview Fairgrounds. Gladysz was dropped at the 19 km mark with Roger and Rod Lewis to follow at the 30 km mark. Rod Lewis managed to catch back up to the lead pair, though, and hung on until the final climb.
Mike Hientzman pushed hard on the last climb to the finish, dropping Rod Lewis at the bottom and the elder Ferris at the top. He came in alone with a splendid 1:08:26 hours. Pat Ferris came in 48 seconds later with Rod Lewis coming third at 1:09:25. Roger St. Jean was 4th at 1:11:16 and Tim Gladysz outsprinted Ed Fornelli for 5th at 1:12:23.
Tessa Bilodeau was 7th overall at 1:12:36, Kevin Sparling 1:12:56, Terry Stone 1:16:00, Gord 'The Hammer' Harris at 1:16:03, Ross Garbutt 1:16:08, Darren Guliov 1:17:17, Ken Nix 1:17:48, Barb Polehoykie 1:18:57, Richard Wood at 1:20:11, Lisa Verbisky 1:20:11, Adam Currie 1:20:14, Jamie Maxwell of Dawson Creek 1:20:14, Trisha Gladysz 1:29:08 and Owen Giebelhaus 1:30:15. Marg Evens did 1:04:23 for 25 km's.
Stephen Ferris and Robert Martens were racing the Alberta Circuit in Canmore, this weekend. Stephen Ferris was 8th place in Saturday's Provincial Time trial Race #1. In Sunday's Canmore Criterium, Robert Martens picked up 5th place in Category 3. Stephen Ferris crashed and could not continue.
Coming up:
Monday is Duathlon #1 at the Baldonnel School at 7:00 pm. It is a 2 km run, 7.5 km bike and another 2 km run.
Thursday is a Baldonnel time trial at 7 pm
Sunday is the Ferris Fast Cycles Team Time trial Trophy race at Cecil Lake at 2:00 pm.
This weekend is also the Grande Prairie Triathlon.
For information check out the web site at www.dawntech.bc.ca/blizzard
On the randonneur front four riders cycled the 300 km Petit Tour de Peace brevet on Saturday. Participants included three cyclists from the Lower Mainland and one local rider. John Bates and Danelle Laidlaw on tandem completed the ride in 14 hrs and 15 minutes, as did Wim Kok from Fort St John. Val White finished the distance in 17 hours and 54 minutes, well within the 20-hour time limit. The cyclists rode from Fort St. John via Hudson's Hope, Chetwynd, Ted's Service and Farmington back to Fort St. John.
Randonneuring, also known as ultra marathon bicycling, requires riders to complete set distances within a fixed time window. Riders must be self-reliant and follow a pre-selected course, while checking in at various control points along the route. Every year the BC Randonneurs Club organizes long distance brevets, ranging from 200, 300, 400, 600 to 1,000 km per event. Every second year it holds the prestiguous Rocky Mountain 1200 km event which runs from Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise back to Kamloops and must be completed in 90 hours. Local brevet organizer Wim Kok is planning the ride this event in July 2004. For more information check the club's website at www.randonneurs.bc.ca
World Masters Track Championships 2004
Regulations, entry details and forms are now available for the World Masters Track Championships to be held in Manchester, England from 13th to 18th September 2004. All of the above can be found on their web site www.cyclingmasters.com
Starting next month news items will be posted on the front page about riders, officials and sponsors etc - Also coming up June will be ticket details for spectators.
You can contact the Masters Office at email@example.com
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
"Madness? No. THIS IS SPARTAAA!!!!"
Few stories have captured the hearts and imaginations of nerds in the past few years like the epic graphic novel 300 and its faithful movie adaptation. I remember going to see 300 during its opening weekend: I walked out of that theater absolutely blown away. I honestly felt like I had just been injected with steroids and caffeine: I wanted to go sprint up mountains, wrestle bears, train with weapons, and get as strong as possible as quickly as possible.
300 is still the movie I turn to whenever I'm in the need of some hardcore motivation to push myself while exercising.
In case you've never seen the movie or need a quick refresher, watch the trailer. It's then time to start imagining yourself as one of the mighty 300, a Spartan soldier trying to fend off a overwhelming army in order to protect your people and your way of life.
Young or old, male or female, we can all be Spartans today.
The Psyche of a Spartan
I've already covered the training regiment that the actors went through to get in shape for this movie (including the brutal 300 challenge), but I want to delve into the actual characters themselves and discover what makes them so badass and inspirational to the Nerd Fitness community.
I find many parallels between the mighty Spartan 300 and the (only slightly less) mighty Nerd Fitness Rebellion. We're both small forces that would do anything for one another. We both fight an incredibly difficult and uphill battle against overwhelming odds (their battle with the Persians, our battle as a community against obesity, fear, heart disease, stereotypes, and life without passion). We both train with conviction, we both fight for our families and future generations, and we both don loin cloths before going to battle (hmm….)
Let's see what else we can learn from King Leonidas and his mighty 300.
Fight whenever, wherever. Just fight
Spartans fight just as well in pouring rain as they do in the scorching heat. Snow? Sleet? Hail? Nothing like a little precipitation to make things interesting, right? During their first encounter with enemy forces:
Persian: A thousand nations of the Persian empire descend upon you. Our arrows will blot out the sun!
Stelios: Then we will fight in the shade.
Ha! Not only are these dudes strong as hell and fearless, but they're also quite witty. Oh, and they will fight anybody, at any time, anywhere.
Spartan Up: When was the last workout you skipped for some bullsh** reason? Don't feel bad, we all do it:
- "Oh it's raining."
- "I had a bad day at work."
- I'm tired, I'll do it tomorrow.
Stop making excuses. Stop putting off until tomorrow what you can do today. Make your personal health and well-being a top priority, and suddenly workouts stop getting skipped.
- Stuck in a hotel room? Do the 20-minute hotel room workout.
- Don't have time to workout? The Angry Bird workout disagrees with you.
- Zombie Apocalypse taking over the world? Here's how to stay alive.
Make MacGuyver proud, and learn how to exercise anywhere at any time. This morning, I did 20 chin ups in a row for the first time in my life. Today's chin ups were on a dead tree branch in Thailand. Last month's chin ups were done on a kids' swingset in an abandoned park at 11PM in Australia. The month before that? The overhang of a roof at the New Zealand Airport.
Any time, anywhere!
Giving Up Isn't an Option
King Leonidas and the Spartans (epic band name by the way) face an army that is greater than anything they have ever seen.
They know that this enemy will most likely end their lives and potentially wipe out Sparta unless they surrender and submit. However, these Spartans have been "Taught never to retreat, never to surrender. Taught that death on the battlefield in service to Sparta was the greatest glory he could achieve in his life."
So, despite staring certain death and destruction in the face, these soldiers know only how to do one thing:
When Xerxes, the king of Persia, confronts Leonidas about his refusal to surrender, explaining that his victory will be so complete that "the world will never know [Sparta] existed at all!" the Spartan king fires back:
"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many, and before this battle was over, even a god-king can bleed."
If you're overweight, out of shape, and chain-smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day, the thought of losing 100 pounds and quitting smoking probably seems impossible to you. If you don't like looking at yourself in the mirror, you probably could never see yourself going to a fun class at your gym because you're afraid.
Spartan Up: Recognize that fear is tyrannical, keeping you imprisoned and preventing you from living a life worth living. The odds may be stacked against you, the challenge may seem too dire, but you're a Spartan, so you fight on. One meal at a time, one work out at a time, one day at a time.
Grab your sword, find some confidence, and fight back.
Train as if your life depended on it
Before fighting the Persians, the Spartan army is joined by another group of free Greeks who far outnumber Leonidas and his crew:
Daxos: I see I was wrong to expect Sparta's commitment to at least match our own.
King Leonidas: Doesn't it? You there, what is your profession?
Free Greek-Potter: I am a potter… sir.
King Leonidas: And you, Arcadian, what is your profession?
Free Greek-Sculptor: Sculptor, sir.
King Leonidas: Sculptor. You?
Free Greek-Blacksmith: Blacksmith.
King Leonidas: [turns back shouting] Spartans! What is your profession?
Spartans: HOO! HOO! HOO!
King Leonidas: [turning to Daxos] You see, old friend? I brought more soldiers than you did.
Although the Spartans might not have the number of soldiers that their allies do, due to the quality and tenacity of their skill as warriors they are far better prepared for battle. For, as Dilios the Spartan explains: "We did what we were trained to do, what we were bred to do, what we were born to do!"
If you can "exercise" while watching TV, talking on your cell phone, and/or reading a book, you're doing it wrong. You're like the potter who calls himself a soldier. You need to think a soldier, train like a soldier, and prepare like a soldier so that you can fight like one.
Spartan Up: It's time to start looking at each of your training sessions like a battle. To borrow from "how to become a superhero," take a few minutes to get yourself into the proper mind frame before picking up a weight or doing your first push up.
- Change into your battle gear
- Put on your favorite song,
- Visualize your workout.
- Mentally pump yourself up for the battle.
- Start foaming at the mouth (optional).
While exercising, block out every distraction around you – do what you were trained to do, bred to do, born to do: push harder, live better, train faster, be stronger.
It's in your DNA.
Look out for your fellow soldier
The Persians outnumbered the Spartans approximately 80 billion to 300 (rough estimates), and yet continually had their asses handed to them in battle after battle after battle.
These two passages sum it up perfectly:
Xerxes: It isn't wise to stand against me, Leonidas. Imagine what horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory.
King Leonidas: And I would die for any one of mine.
Stelios: It's an honor to die at your side.
King Leonidas: It's an honor to have lived at yours.
The Persians might have the numbers, but the Spartans train as if their lives depended on it and they're all part of a brotherhood that cannot be broken. Spartans know that "in the end, a [man's] true strength is the warrior next to him. So give respect and honor to him, and it will be returned to you."
Spartan Up: If you have a training partner, or a group at work or friends that are exercising with you:
- Give them respect and honor, and expect respect and honor in return.
- If you say you are going to work out at a certain time on a certain day, be there – no excuses.
- Offer support when needed, tough love when required, and expect greatness when greatness is possible.
We are all capable of great things in this world; start pushing those around you to strive for those great things, and make sure they expect the same of you. You will all live better lives because of it.
I can honestly say that it has been an absolutely pleasure to fight alongside my fellow rebels in the Rebellion – I try to honor you, my fellow rebel, by pushing myself to the limit with every workout.
I hope you do the same.
Leave it all on the battlefield
In one of the most iconic scenes in the movie, King Leonidas says goodbye to his wife out in the beautiful wheat fields before heading off to battle and certain death. The queen delivers one of the best lines in "goosebump-inducing awesomeness" history, a new category I just created about fourteen seconds ago:
Queen Gorgo: Spartan!
King Leonidas: Yes, my lady?
Queen Gorgo: Come back with your shield, or on it.
King Leonidas: Yes, my lady.
No surrender. Only victory or death.
Reminds me of a quote from another movie I tend to draw a slight bit of inspiration from: "do or do not, there is no try."
Spartan Up: I'm not telling you to go kill yourself trying to complete your workout today. I'm telling you that it's your responsibility to give it your all whenever you exercise. Push yourself to find out what you're capable of, which is always more than you think. Walk out of that gym drenched in sweat. Finish your sprints with wobbly legs.
Go hard or go home.
And home isn't an option.
I challenge you to channel your inner Sparta during your workout this afternoon. Think of your brothers/sisters in arms as you exercise; imagine them standing shoulder to shoulder with you, all pushing to become stronger warriors, faster soldiers, better heroes.
Respect and honor your friends by pushing yourself to greater heights – it's these extra pushes and moments of determination when faced with adversity that level up your life.
Now, go. Fight. And come back with your shield, or on it.
For the Rebellion,
Today's Rebel Hero: Anna S. from Krakow, Poland!
Maybe my favorite picture thus far from the Rebel community. After taking this picture, Anna went to her Kung Fu (seriously) class, took her exam, and leveled up to Level 2. I'm not saying the shirt was the reason for her passing with flying colors…but it certainly didn't hurt. Congrats Anna, you're my new hero!
Have you ordered your Nerd Fitness shirt yet? Pick one up (only $20 with free shipping anywhere in the world), and send me a photo – you could be the next Rebel Hero!
photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4, photo 5, photo 6