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From: High school teacher (Media and Society)

Every  year I ask my students to complete a "media free" day.  Of course, it's not about being completely media free, but avoiding active participation with mass media.  We just finished the project this week.

This year, I added another component: leave your cell phone at home.  Better yet give your cell phone to a parent for the day.  Gasp!  For most, it was akin to being asked to remove a limb. 

The writing/discussion afterwards was the most revealing.  The "silence" that resulted from being unplugged for a day solicited words like awkward, threatening, frightening, creepy, unnatural.  They did not like the sound of their own voice in their own head.

I feel it right to also honor the kids for whom an "unplug" day was not difficult.  There are a percentage of teens (in my experience) who don't sleep with their cell phone, don't spend hours on social networking sites, and use the tools of their generation with awareness and balance.

There is media addiction in our culture, no doubt.  However, let us not have another discussion of media awareness - media literacy - be another Nancy Reagan "just say no" campaign against the media, which seems to only alienate and shame people.

vmhughes.  teacher.  co-founder MediaThink (www.mediathink.org)

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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from Vanessa: high school teacher in portland

Yes! part of our pay should be tied to our practice. HOWEVER (and this is a big however) it should only be part - consider these points:
--how will you measure special education teachers whose students are predominantly "non-performers"?
--why are we so afraid of a subjective process? what a condemnation of our administrators to imply they are incapable of being professional in their evaluations.
--in countries where teaching is considered a profession equal in status to the law and medicine, teachers are compensated with some measure of subjectivity. this (U.S.)current, rigid system demeans our profession and practice.

The Chalkboard Project is an extraordinary asset to our state.
Thank you for having this conversation.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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(I'm raising my hand)
Yes, please, I would like to inform - as best I can - the discussion. I am a high school Language Arts teacher in Portland Public. I am in my third year of teaching, though I am far from my twenties. This is my second career and, as such, I have a different perspective on both the profession, its supporters, and its critics.
I would also highly recommend Linda Christiansen: a long time educator, leader, activist, and (currently) teacher of teachers at Lewis and Clarke Grad School Writing Program.
In fact, there are a host of extraordinary teachers - my colleagues - who should be part of this discussion. Please contact me and I will provide more information.

posted 5 years, 4 months ago
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