So this article was a good read for me.
Periodically I will come across articles such as these. Essentially, this writer is explaining how the institutional nature of public schools, and its dependence on politics, creates an untenable situation for modern teachers. That the static is overwhelming the signal in many classrooms. And much of this is true, and I have sometimes felt that the extraneous requirements of a public educator can make for long days.
So, maybe instituting the punk rock approach to teaching is even more urgent now than ever. The true punk rock models that I have admired do not simply reject all elements of the mainstream institution - instead they use the institutional tools to create something new. Both Chapel Hill's Merge Records, and Washington DC's Dischord Records continue to put out amazing records by some incredible punk and indie rock bands. And they have continued to thrive, and fulfill their mission by both sticking to their DIY ethos, while also adopting some elements of the modern music industry, including online purchasing - and the resurgence of vinyl. Even Ryan Adams formed his own record label PAX-AM so that he could put out as many recordings as his heart desires (which, it turns out, is many).
Periodically I will come across articles such as these. Essentially, this writer is explaining how the institutional nature of public schools, and its dependence on politics, creates an untenable situation for modern teachers. That the static is overwhelming the signal in many classrooms. And much of this is true, and I have sometimes felt that the extraneous requirements of a public educator can make for long days.
So, maybe instituting the punk rock approach to teaching is even more urgent now than ever. The true punk rock models that I have admired do not simply reject all elements of the mainstream institution - instead they use the institutional tools to create something new. Both Chapel Hill's Merge Records, and Washington DC's Dischord Records continue to put out amazing records by some incredible punk and indie rock bands. And they have continued to thrive, and fulfill their mission by both sticking to their DIY ethos, while also adopting some elements of the modern music industry, including online purchasing - and the resurgence of vinyl. Even Ryan Adams formed his own record label PAX-AM so that he could put out as many recordings as his heart desires (which, it turns out, is many).
These are pathways that we can emulate in teaching. Large institutions like a public school system have much available space in which we can innovate. Actually, in my experience, most leaders are looking for new ideas, and success stories - and unlike most jobs, teachers spend 6-8 hours a day in small workshop studios (classrooms), full of energy, that are begging for new ideas. We can use this space to cultivate and share ideas, and build a movement from the ground up.
So, instead of leaving the profession - I believe it is time to double down on building relationships that inspire us to create. And let's invite the people to us, to witness our movement in these schools. Let's build something for us, by us - to serve our community with energy and enthusiasm.
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