Okay, first off, I guess I need to apologize in advance to anyone who happens to be a Lady Gaga fan. But I need to blow off a little steam. I promise to make it short.
Gaga was at Harvard kicking off her Born This Way Foundation - - founded to "make the world a better place." I think her foundation is primarily to help stop bullying and prevent violence, which I am all for. I even posted an anti-bullying blurb on my facebook page yesterday. But she just seems so entitled, so spoiled. "I believe that if you have revolutionary potential, you must make the world a better place and use it." What the heck does that mean?? "Revolutionary potential"!!???
She said that if there were a law to make people be kind to one another, "you know, I'd be chained naked to a fence somewhere trying to pass it." What???!
"We need to be tolerant of other people," while she seems to be very intolerant of anybody who feels differently than she does.
But the one statement that really burned me was when she said that "teachers don't give a &%*#." I took that very personally. In our family alone, we have no less than eight educators. An elementary school counselor (my husband), three university professors, two middle school teachers and two high school teachers. So, yes, I took that statement VERY personally. If my husband didn't give a *%#*, we wouldn't now be filling out a thousand forms trying to become eligible to care for one of the little boys he counsels (whose mother is in jail and father just died). If my brother and sister-in-law didn't give a *%&, then their current and former students wouldn't be on facebook everyday thanking them for caring. And if my father-in-law, who taught at the university level for 35 years, didn't give a %$*&, then 500 people would not have shown up at his funeral. Just ask Mark if he, as a teacher, didn't (and still does) give a *%(# for his students. Just read his blog -- on any day -- and you can feel the love for his students and his students for him.
You know, I hope that her foundation does some good. But right now, Lady Gaga, you make me want to ga-gag.
Random thoughts of a girl who used to try to fit in the box. Then I realized that boxes are stupid. Except this box, the one above. It's really pretty.
It makes me crazy when people generalize an entire group of people like that. I think the vast majority of educators DO care a lot. I also think there are huge issues within the educational system that it is difficult for caring educators to work against.
ReplyDeleteYou don't fix bullying by spewing generalizations about a whole category of people. Putting people into categories and generalities and thereby diminishing their humanity and individuality is what makes bullying possible in the first place.
I think Lady Gaga may very well mean well, but she's fallen a little too in love with listening to the sound of her own voice, from the sounds of it.
I love what you said - putting people into categories and generalities dimishes their humanity and individuality. Very well said, thank you!
Deletediminishes (since we are talking about teachers, I should probably spell the word correctly!)
DeleteThere is a difference between caring about bullying and jumping on the proverbial band wagon. It sounds more like her publicist put together this foundation and tour to improve her popularity. I will say I haved had experience with teachers who didn't car but I have had wayyyyyyy more experiences with teachers that go above and beyond and as a Mom with special needs kids I believe that the good far outweigh the bad!
ReplyDeleteWhat bothers me is the fact that so many people will actually eat that up..
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't.
I think Jeanne is probably right. And the women is just a bit of a freak.
ReplyDeleteYou're really trying to get custody of that little boy? Good for you!
Haha, yes we are. He's in foster care now with a foster mother who doesn't speak English and three other older boys who aren't very nice to him. It would just be a temporary situation until his grandmother in Arizona can go through the process and be approved as his permanent caregiver. But, hopefully he can feel a little loved in the mean time :)
DeleteI am only speaking for my backwoods state and hometown here (please don't bash me in the head) While I do think that there are a handful of teachers in this state that do care, sadly there are soooo many that don't. WV ranks at #37th in education among all 50 states. To me that means there are only 16 dumber states than WV. : ( The high numbers of kids who are graduating in this state who cannot read, astounds me. The number of drop outs just in my county alone is staggering in numbers. We need more teachers here like you have described in your post.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to say that I have blogged several times about the sad realities of education in this state. The Children imo are the Future of this state.
DeleteHere is just one link with a video of the many of the sad realities of WV, not just education. http://myworldaccordingtomeii.blogspot.com/2011/09/special-election-1042011-wv.html#more
The other links are at the bottom of my blog in the search cloud Sorry so long winded : )
I wouldn't dream of bashing you in the head! And at least you're not one of the 17 worse states than WV! Not funny, really. Our children deserve the best . . . especially in educators. I'll check out your links.
DeleteOkay, I have to admit, after reading this article online - - that some teachers definitely give the whole profession a bad name - - a 41 year old high school teacher in Modesto, CA (could be anywhere--this time it's here) left his wife and children to move in with a high school senior (he met her when she was a freshman). He had to "follow his heart." His heart??!! Creep.
ReplyDeletesadly I think that is in news even more. : ( Locally in Feb. we just had an Intermediate teacher who was arrested in a sting with an underage minor. : ( I did forget to mention that I agree that Lady GaGa is not a very good role model.
DeleteFirst of all, Lady Ga-Ga is nothing new. We had Madonna. Today it's Lady Ga-ga, she's like Madonna on crack, if Madonna had ever walked thru a car wash hitting every bristle, every mop, and surviving the wind tunnel at the end. - Not a fan of Lady Ga-Ga, can you tell?
ReplyDeleteSecond, my daughter is a teacher and she gives a shit about her students and not just about their educational needs.. I can't tell you how many hats, mittens, scarves, boots and winter coats my daughter provided for some of her students.. Clearly it's not the teachers who don't give a shit, it's the parents, so get it right Lady Gag-Gag!
We can only hope this foundation of hers does *some* good.. She could start making the world a better place by keeping her uninformed opinions to herself. >.<
The good teachers far outnumber the bad - it's just the bad teachers get all the media attention while the good ones like your daughter quietly go around doing good and trying to make a difference. Here's to all the unsung hero teachers of the world !
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! My mom taught for so many years and she really tried to help those little kids. There are plenty who can read because she went the extra mile and helped them.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know Lady GaGa or her music if she came and played at my front door. But I do know that most of the teachers with whom I work are sincerely dedicated to their work and their students. Certainly, in California, you are not doing the job for the money.....
ReplyDeleteI do agree with Masked Mom that there are huge issues within the educational community and culture that make the whole thing cumbersome. Kids are not widgets and cannot be treated as one size fits all (whether you are talking about learning styles, parent buy in, economic status, etc).
I am so proud of Mark, first for all the work he did as an inspiring classroom teacher , but now also because he is continuing to touch the lives of his former student. That man has a heart of gold.
I thought of you during the night, believe it or not. I enjoyed discovering the blogs you recommended yesterday and .. forgot to leave a comment on yours!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!
I think you mistake spoiled, spoiled, intolerant for someone who feels that if she has a platform or forum because she is famous because she can get people to listen then she must use that to further causes that need furthering ... attract attention (be tied naked to a post sure would get people to look, wouldnt it?) and get a revolution (make change happen) going ... she's an activist and the means to the ends are not important .. its the end that matters ..ending bullying, ending intolerance ..
ReplyDeleteDaryl - I think we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one :)
ReplyDeleteI've taken a shower, my mind is clear, my make up is on :). So I have one more thought on the above comments - you cannot end bullying by being a bully; you cannot end tolerance by being intolerant - the means to the end are EXTREMELY important to reaching a goal - and still have your character intact when you arrive there. Now on to the next topic !!
DeleteMy sister has been teaching for over 20 years and she has girls (mostly, girls, she's also a basketball and volleyball coach) come see her all the time. She's gone to countless missionary farewells, wedding receptions, etc. for the kids she taught. She loves them.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think Lady Gag-me is doing this because she cares. I suspect she's doing it because it's 'the thing to do'.
Good Buddha. Judy, This is an intoxicatingly mellifluous post. I am in tears, that you would single me out. I guess my protest tomorrow, down in front of the Observer, in support of Jamal, constitutes support for my students, though I have been retired since 2006. I don't think too much about that. I just do what needs to be done. You are a powerful speaker, who has made an ardent statement, which will remain with me. I am glad my sistah Sebtown has been to this site. Much love.
ReplyDelete