Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Education Needs New PR

There's a new movie about to come out this summer,entitled: "Bad Teacher". It's a comedy starring Cameron Diaz, along with the multi-talented Justin Timberlake. I love a comedy,in fact, it is my favorite genre of movies. It's just the timing that I don't like. Republicans have swept many state legislatures--such is the case in North Carolina, where the Republicans now dominate the state legislature for the first time in a century. A one cent sales tax was allowed to expire to the demise of educators and other state workers. With the mean-spirited mentality of the North Carolina Republicans, I'm positive that someone will use the movie "Bad Teacher" to further emphasize their attacks on teachers. To be certain, there are bad teachers, just as there are bad lawyers, doctors and folks who serve in every other profession.

Think about this: name a profession where people EXPECT you to spend your own money and not be reimbursed for it. There are several teachers who will brag about how much money that they have spent for their classrooms, and then complain about it all at the same time! STOP IT ALREADY! We teach people how to treat us,and teachers have done it to themselves with their martyrdom. For as long as I can remember educators have been complaining about how little they are paid. It appears to be an annual rite-of-passage to complain about teaching conditions, disrespectful and unparented students, and lack of adequate pay for the high expectations of their constituents.

After playing the martyr role for so long, it becomes very difficult to change the public's opinion on how teachers should be treated. The bottomline is, is that the entire education profession needs new PR. Educators have got to get real with themselves, and take responsibility for their own demise. There is an old saying, "you have what you say". So if you constantly speak of lack, poverty--that is what you will see in your life. That saying is the precursor of the current Law of Attraction. So, educators begin to speak wealth and positivity over your situation, but more importantly, begin BELIEVING and ACTING and PROJECTING what it is that you want and deserve. There is no magical bullet to solve state budget woes, but I tell you, that the initial change has to begin with YOU, your attitude about what it is that you stand for, what you will tolerate and accept. Stop using your hard-earned dollars without reimbursement--simply stop. Let your school administrators actually SEE and FEEL the difference of your actions. In time, your change will come.

To the NEA and all other Teacher's Unions, please feel free to contact me for PR assistance. For my talents, abilities and successes, I do thank all of my teachers from my hometown of Detroit!

0 comments: