ALWAYS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS!

“A student from whom nothing is ever demanded which he cannot do-
Never does all he can.”

-John Stuart Mill

 

 

THE BEST SOURCES OF ADVICE ON HOW TO GET A TEACHING JOB!

John Zeck was a teacher for 40 years in the Camden County School District and now serves as a consultant for new teachers in the district. He is my teacher mentor, a dear friend, and a great resource for wisdom and guidance. Recently, he shared some of his insights on the topic of finding a teaching job with me, since I am trying to help a friend. Then, being the awesome guy that he is, he sent me some online resources. 

Here are some of the sources he sent me for sound advice about finding a teaching job, most of which can also be found on Larry Ferlazzo's edublog http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/ (feel free to suggest more links and resources):

What Principals Look For In A Prospective Teacher is a column from my Education Week 

Teacher blog that was published last year.

Principals’ tips for teacher interviews is from Curt Rees.

How to Find Your Dream Teaching Job is by Heather Wolpert-Gawron.

Six Steps to Landing Your First Teaching Job is from the National Education Association.

FAQs About Teachers’ Employment is also from the NEA.

More Tips for Landing that Teacher Job is by Pernille Ripp.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO DRIVE DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE A LICENSE TO KILL!

DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! Tis the season of proms, graduations, and weddings, so I figured that I'd share this to promote safety on the road. This is a commercial that I was in for Hattricks Bar to promote the importance of having a designated driver. Think before you drink and always have a DD!

P.M.A. ALL DAY!

"Don't care what they may say, we got that attitude.

Don't care what they may do, we got that attitude.

Heyyy we got that P.M.A.!

Heyyy we got that P.M.A.!

Heyyy we got that P.M.A.!"

-Bad Brains

VIVE LE CINEMA?

 BUSINESS IS BOOMIN! Iron Man 3? The Wolverine? Man of Steel? No matter what movie wins the highly coveted title as the biggest summer blockbuster, Hollywood cashes in and most likely has one of the best years ever at the box office. Now, before I state the issue I have with this, allow me to express that I cannot wait to see all three of these films. Thus, I consider myself part of the overall problem.

 Question... IS NOTHING SACRED IN HOLLYWOOD? The answer to that one has been clear for as long as the studio system has existed. However, I always kind of thought that the movies were safe; that they would be protected. After all, they are the true children of Hollywood. I was wrong. Hollywood and its major studios continue to remake, redux, and restart films and ideas as if they have no creative juice left to squeeze, and it really pisses me off.

 Originality has sadly passed away. Bring out your dead! Intellectual property is a graveyard in Hollywood. They continue to rob the graves of film history in attempt to give new life to classic ideas. Show your respects, Hollywood!

 Now, I really didn't like or understand the idea of a remake when I was a young man. I simply didn't see the point and thought it to be pretty lame. However, my views have changed over the years. I can understand remaking a classic film or rebranding a classic franchise in lieu of modern film technology and advancements that allow for the movie and/or franchise to be a more effective story, and perhaps an even better film than the original.

 Yet, how do you define 'classic' when Hollywood is remaking films that are 20 years old? It was recently announced that one of my favorite films of all time, The Crow, was getting a remake. This sickened me. The original movie was made in 1994! '94! And if not simply for it being such a young film in the vaults of movie history, a remake is just highly unnecessary due to the fact that the original was so visionary and awesome. Show some respect for Brandon Lee!

 Nonetheless, I am not surprised. I think I knew in the back of my mind that this would happen someday. I am prepared for future disappointments in Hollywood. I know that no film in the history of cinema is safe. I suppose it's the only way of preserving great ideas and immortalizing their commercial value. People will keep spending money on the films, so why not cash in on them? People loved the Broadway show, they'll see the movie version! People loved the TV show, they'll see the movie version! People loved the comic book, they'll see the movie version! These are safe investments for Hollywood. Hollywood doesn't care about respect. It only cares about one thing... dead presidents. Nothing is sacred. The movie theater is a cemetery filled with zombies, films and patrons alike. The movies are walking dead and we are the ones that end up brainless victims of Hollywood.

 I'm an optimist though. Perhaps, Hollywood will realize that you preserve great films in cinema archives, not movie theaters. Perhaps, Hollywood will start protecting the great films of yesteryear. Perhaps, Hollywood will experience a renaissance of fresh new ideas that will lead to the end of cinema recycling. Perhaps, art will someday be valued as much as commerce. VIVE LE CINEMA?