I recently wrote yet another letter to President Obama, this time giving him a suggestion on fixing the school system.
Basically, the argument goes like this:
1Teachers get laid off due to a lack of funding.
2School year and school week gets shortened.
3A band aid fix could be dumping more water (money) into a broken glass (the school system).
This is a bad solution because it really doesn't fix anything for more than one year and adds debt.
Instead, why not go ahead and allocate that money to a lasting solution. There is already talk of making broadband available to everyone as a new communication standard. Put this into action now! Get computers in homes and wireless broadband for all. Do it well and right the first time.
Pay would decrease with teachers working from home, but they wouldn't need to drive to work (less gas) and also wouldn't be contributing to global warming. Suddenly, electric cars, even these early ones with shorter ranges seem a more viable choice for many people.
You could adapt this to other industries I suppose, but education is due for an overhaul.
Cutting jobs is a bad idea.
Shorter days is another bad idea.
Get families involved in their child's education, help them plan to get all their work done and take pride in their children.
For those of you still reading, here's my letter:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Obama,
I am a former tenured teacher for a local BOCES. I lost my job last year and have learned to live with less on the unemployment checks I'm so glad to have coming in.
There was a time when I would scoff at a paycheck like my unemployment, but now I have learned to live happily with less.
As a Christian, I have discovered that Faith is something I at least have enough of to get me through and it grows stronger every day.
I worked as a teacher in jails, and in Alternative schools, as well as acting in the capacity of Crisis Counselor for the alternative middle and high schools and finally gained tenure last year. That was also the year my weeping administrators told me they had to let me go.
This is sad, but the truth of the matter is it's been an opportunity for me to work on building a web based business out of some former false starts and side projects, and changing my life's direction completely. This is a very exciting time for me because I'm a saver and will be able to weather the storm. Sure, I spend less money. A lot less, in fact. Now that I've done what everyone expected of me and gotten a teaching job and a Master's Degree, I have a rare shot to put my best foot forward and try something that I've always wanted to pursue full time. My only regret is that the kids that need the most attention and help don't get it. I'm a big boy and I'll make my way, one way or another. But those kids are losing something valuable.
I know that many more teachers are also about to go through this- hopefully their districts will have the foresight to provide counseling services, as mine did and I found it helpful.
My suggestion is that if we're to add to the budget deficit, it might as well do good for the ones it's most important to. Namely, the students.
Rather than borrowing a lot of money as a temporary measure that will have to be repeated, why not use that money instead to upgrade houses and communities with wireless broadband and computers?
Have the teachers teach from home. Less money in salaries, but you also don't have to leave the house/ contribute to foreign oil dependence.
In addition, families who have adults living at home would have to more involved in their child's education, which could help heal a lot of broken homes and families.
Just my two cents worth, and keep up the good work. I'm someone who has had a renewed sense of pride in my country despite being laid off.
That is largely because of the inspirational way in which you have essentially stopped a speeding locomotive and are helping to not only stop it, but also to push it in the other direction.
God Bless,
-Jim"
Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
What To Do With This Broken Educational System?
I recently wrote yet another letter to President Obama, this time giving him a suggestion on fixing the school system.
Basically, the argument goes like this:
1Teachers get laid off due to a lack of funding.
2School year and school week gets shortened.
3A band aid fix could be dumping more water (money) into a broken glass (the school system).
This is a bad solution because it really doesn't fix anything for more than one year and adds debt.
Instead, why not go ahead and allocate that money to a lasting solution. There is already talk of making broadband available to everyone as a new communication standard. Put this into action now! Get computers in homes and wireless broadband for all. Do it well and right the first time.
Pay would decrease with teachers working from home, but they wouldn't need to drive to work (less gas) and also wouldn't be contributing to global warming. Suddenly, electric cars, even these early ones with shorter ranges seem a more viable choice for many people.
You could adapt this to other industries I suppose, but education is due for an overhaul.
Cutting jobs is a bad idea.
Shorter days is another bad idea.
Get families involved in their child's education, help them plan to get all their work done and take pride in their children.
For those of you still reading, here's my letter:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Obama,
I am a former tenured teacher for a local BOCES. I lost my job last year and have learned to live with less on the unemployment checks I'm so glad to have coming in.
There was a time when I would scoff at a paycheck like my unemployment, but now I have learned to live happily with less.
As a Christian, I have discovered that Faith is something I at least have enough of to get me through and it grows stronger every day.
I worked as a teacher in jails, and in Alternative schools, as well as acting in the capacity of Crisis Counselor for the alternative middle and high schools and finally gained tenure last year. That was also the year my weeping administrators told me they had to let me go.
This is sad, but the truth of the matter is it's been an opportunity for me to work on building a web based business out of some former false starts and side projects, and changing my life's direction completely. This is a very exciting time for me because I'm a saver and will be able to weather the storm. Sure, I spend less money. A lot less, in fact. Now that I've done what everyone expected of me and gotten a teaching job and a Master's Degree, I have a rare shot to put my best foot forward and try something that I've always wanted to pursue full time. My only regret is that the kids that need the most attention and help don't get it. I'm a big boy and I'll make my way, one way or another. But those kids are losing something valuable.
I know that many more teachers are also about to go through this- hopefully their districts will have the foresight to provide counseling services, as mine did and I found it helpful.
My suggestion is that if we're to add to the budget deficit, it might as well do good for the ones it's most important to. Namely, the students.
Rather than borrowing a lot of money as a temporary measure that will have to be repeated, why not use that money instead to upgrade houses and communities with wireless broadband and computers?
Have the teachers teach from home. Less money in salaries, but you also don't have to leave the house/ contribute to foreign oil dependence.
In addition, families who have adults living at home would have to more involved in their child's education, which could help heal a lot of broken homes and families.
Just my two cents worth, and keep up the good work. I'm someone who has had a renewed sense of pride in my country despite being laid off.
That is largely because of the inspirational way in which you have essentially stopped a speeding locomotive and are helping to not only stop it, but also to push it in the other direction.
God Bless,
-Jim"
Thanks for reading.
Basically, the argument goes like this:
1Teachers get laid off due to a lack of funding.
2School year and school week gets shortened.
3A band aid fix could be dumping more water (money) into a broken glass (the school system).
This is a bad solution because it really doesn't fix anything for more than one year and adds debt.
Instead, why not go ahead and allocate that money to a lasting solution. There is already talk of making broadband available to everyone as a new communication standard. Put this into action now! Get computers in homes and wireless broadband for all. Do it well and right the first time.
Pay would decrease with teachers working from home, but they wouldn't need to drive to work (less gas) and also wouldn't be contributing to global warming. Suddenly, electric cars, even these early ones with shorter ranges seem a more viable choice for many people.
You could adapt this to other industries I suppose, but education is due for an overhaul.
Cutting jobs is a bad idea.
Shorter days is another bad idea.
Get families involved in their child's education, help them plan to get all their work done and take pride in their children.
For those of you still reading, here's my letter:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Obama,
I am a former tenured teacher for a local BOCES. I lost my job last year and have learned to live with less on the unemployment checks I'm so glad to have coming in.
There was a time when I would scoff at a paycheck like my unemployment, but now I have learned to live happily with less.
As a Christian, I have discovered that Faith is something I at least have enough of to get me through and it grows stronger every day.
I worked as a teacher in jails, and in Alternative schools, as well as acting in the capacity of Crisis Counselor for the alternative middle and high schools and finally gained tenure last year. That was also the year my weeping administrators told me they had to let me go.
This is sad, but the truth of the matter is it's been an opportunity for me to work on building a web based business out of some former false starts and side projects, and changing my life's direction completely. This is a very exciting time for me because I'm a saver and will be able to weather the storm. Sure, I spend less money. A lot less, in fact. Now that I've done what everyone expected of me and gotten a teaching job and a Master's Degree, I have a rare shot to put my best foot forward and try something that I've always wanted to pursue full time. My only regret is that the kids that need the most attention and help don't get it. I'm a big boy and I'll make my way, one way or another. But those kids are losing something valuable.
I know that many more teachers are also about to go through this- hopefully their districts will have the foresight to provide counseling services, as mine did and I found it helpful.
My suggestion is that if we're to add to the budget deficit, it might as well do good for the ones it's most important to. Namely, the students.
Rather than borrowing a lot of money as a temporary measure that will have to be repeated, why not use that money instead to upgrade houses and communities with wireless broadband and computers?
Have the teachers teach from home. Less money in salaries, but you also don't have to leave the house/ contribute to foreign oil dependence.
In addition, families who have adults living at home would have to more involved in their child's education, which could help heal a lot of broken homes and families.
Just my two cents worth, and keep up the good work. I'm someone who has had a renewed sense of pride in my country despite being laid off.
That is largely because of the inspirational way in which you have essentially stopped a speeding locomotive and are helping to not only stop it, but also to push it in the other direction.
God Bless,
-Jim"
Thanks for reading.
What To Do With This Broken Educational System?
I recently wrote yet another letter to President Obama, this time giving him a suggestion on fixing the school system.
Basically, the argument goes like this:
1Teachers get laid off due to a lack of funding.
2School year and school week gets shortened.
3A band aid fix could be dumping more water (money) into a broken glass (the school system).
This is a bad solution because it really doesn't fix anything for more than one year and adds debt.
Instead, why not go ahead and allocate that money to a lasting solution. There is already talk of making broadband available to everyone as a new communication standard. Put this into action now! Get computers in homes and wireless broadband for all. Do it well and right the first time.
Pay would decrease with teachers working from home, but they wouldn't need to drive to work (less gas) and also wouldn't be contributing to global warming. Suddenly, electric cars, even these early ones with shorter ranges seem a more viable choice for many people.
You could adapt this to other industries I suppose, but education is due for an overhaul.
Cutting jobs is a bad idea.
Shorter days is another bad idea.
Get families involved in their child's education, help them plan to get all their work done and take pride in their children.
For those of you still reading, here's my letter:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Obama,
I am a former tenured teacher for a local BOCES. I lost my job last year and have learned to live with less on the unemployment checks I'm so glad to have coming in.
There was a time when I would scoff at a paycheck like my unemployment, but now I have learned to live happily with less.
As a Christian, I have discovered that Faith is something I at least have enough of to get me through and it grows stronger every day.
I worked as a teacher in jails, and in Alternative schools, as well as acting in the capacity of Crisis Counselor for the alternative middle and high schools and finally gained tenure last year. That was also the year my weeping administrators told me they had to let me go.
This is sad, but the truth of the matter is it's been an opportunity for me to work on building a web based business out of some former false starts and side projects, and changing my life's direction completely. This is a very exciting time for me because I'm a saver and will be able to weather the storm. Sure, I spend less money. A lot less, in fact. Now that I've done what everyone expected of me and gotten a teaching job and a Master's Degree, I have a rare shot to put my best foot forward and try something that I've always wanted to pursue full time. My only regret is that the kids that need the most attention and help don't get it. I'm a big boy and I'll make my way, one way or another. But those kids are losing something valuable.
I know that many more teachers are also about to go through this- hopefully their districts will have the foresight to provide counseling services, as mine did and I found it helpful.
My suggestion is that if we're to add to the budget deficit, it might as well do good for the ones it's most important to. Namely, the students.
Rather than borrowing a lot of money as a temporary measure that will have to be repeated, why not use that money instead to upgrade houses and communities with wireless broadband and computers?
Have the teachers teach from home. Less money in salaries, but you also don't have to leave the house/ contribute to foreign oil dependence.
In addition, families who have adults living at home would have to more involved in their child's education, which could help heal a lot of broken homes and families.
Just my two cents worth, and keep up the good work. I'm someone who has had a renewed sense of pride in my country despite being laid off.
That is largely because of the inspirational way in which you have essentially stopped a speeding locomotive and are helping to not only stop it, but also to push it in the other direction.
God Bless,
-Jim"
Thanks for reading.
Basically, the argument goes like this:
1Teachers get laid off due to a lack of funding.
2School year and school week gets shortened.
3A band aid fix could be dumping more water (money) into a broken glass (the school system).
This is a bad solution because it really doesn't fix anything for more than one year and adds debt.
Instead, why not go ahead and allocate that money to a lasting solution. There is already talk of making broadband available to everyone as a new communication standard. Put this into action now! Get computers in homes and wireless broadband for all. Do it well and right the first time.
Pay would decrease with teachers working from home, but they wouldn't need to drive to work (less gas) and also wouldn't be contributing to global warming. Suddenly, electric cars, even these early ones with shorter ranges seem a more viable choice for many people.
You could adapt this to other industries I suppose, but education is due for an overhaul.
Cutting jobs is a bad idea.
Shorter days is another bad idea.
Get families involved in their child's education, help them plan to get all their work done and take pride in their children.
For those of you still reading, here's my letter:
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Obama,
I am a former tenured teacher for a local BOCES. I lost my job last year and have learned to live with less on the unemployment checks I'm so glad to have coming in.
There was a time when I would scoff at a paycheck like my unemployment, but now I have learned to live happily with less.
As a Christian, I have discovered that Faith is something I at least have enough of to get me through and it grows stronger every day.
I worked as a teacher in jails, and in Alternative schools, as well as acting in the capacity of Crisis Counselor for the alternative middle and high schools and finally gained tenure last year. That was also the year my weeping administrators told me they had to let me go.
This is sad, but the truth of the matter is it's been an opportunity for me to work on building a web based business out of some former false starts and side projects, and changing my life's direction completely. This is a very exciting time for me because I'm a saver and will be able to weather the storm. Sure, I spend less money. A lot less, in fact. Now that I've done what everyone expected of me and gotten a teaching job and a Master's Degree, I have a rare shot to put my best foot forward and try something that I've always wanted to pursue full time. My only regret is that the kids that need the most attention and help don't get it. I'm a big boy and I'll make my way, one way or another. But those kids are losing something valuable.
I know that many more teachers are also about to go through this- hopefully their districts will have the foresight to provide counseling services, as mine did and I found it helpful.
My suggestion is that if we're to add to the budget deficit, it might as well do good for the ones it's most important to. Namely, the students.
Rather than borrowing a lot of money as a temporary measure that will have to be repeated, why not use that money instead to upgrade houses and communities with wireless broadband and computers?
Have the teachers teach from home. Less money in salaries, but you also don't have to leave the house/ contribute to foreign oil dependence.
In addition, families who have adults living at home would have to more involved in their child's education, which could help heal a lot of broken homes and families.
Just my two cents worth, and keep up the good work. I'm someone who has had a renewed sense of pride in my country despite being laid off.
That is largely because of the inspirational way in which you have essentially stopped a speeding locomotive and are helping to not only stop it, but also to push it in the other direction.
God Bless,
-Jim"
Thanks for reading.
Friday, January 1, 2010
When Out of Unemployment Teachers Should Consider Affiliate Marketing
Unemployment insurance is not something anyone wants to have to use. It's easy to feel like the unemployment teachers receive will keep coming in until the economy improves. Well, that may be happening, but don't count on things getting back to normal too fast. Already the government has extended the dates for some states to continue to provide unemployment benefits. Whether you're a retired, substitute or other teacher who has had to use unemployment insurance, make sure you choose an occupation that is worthy of your time. So what do you do?
The first thing you do is sit down with a calendar and figure out how much time you have until you run out of unemployment money. Then you will want to figure out what your assets are (liquid and otherwise). Once you get to the point where you're ready to look for other options besides teaching (as our President said, this economy won't fix itself overnight- expect to have to do something else), at least temporarily, you might break your options down.
For myself, I'd prefer to break things up into two categories: Worthwhile and Not Worthwhile. The government has a word for people displaced from their careers who work jobs they don't really want to do- it's called being underemployed. You can avoid this kind of classification by choosing an occupation, at least until you can get back to teaching, that utilizes your research and writing skills.
Affiliate Marketing fills the bill. Your research skills are used to find out what products are selling best to which demographic. You use your writing skills to present your product to your audience. You use your finely honed ability to explain something to a given audience who may then buy the product, earning you a commission. Before you go out and manage a restaurant or do something else you went to college to avoid doing, take a look at Affiliate Marketing.
The first thing you do is sit down with a calendar and figure out how much time you have until you run out of unemployment money. Then you will want to figure out what your assets are (liquid and otherwise). Once you get to the point where you're ready to look for other options besides teaching (as our President said, this economy won't fix itself overnight- expect to have to do something else), at least temporarily, you might break your options down.
For myself, I'd prefer to break things up into two categories: Worthwhile and Not Worthwhile. The government has a word for people displaced from their careers who work jobs they don't really want to do- it's called being underemployed. You can avoid this kind of classification by choosing an occupation, at least until you can get back to teaching, that utilizes your research and writing skills.
Affiliate Marketing fills the bill. Your research skills are used to find out what products are selling best to which demographic. You use your writing skills to present your product to your audience. You use your finely honed ability to explain something to a given audience who may then buy the product, earning you a commission. Before you go out and manage a restaurant or do something else you went to college to avoid doing, take a look at Affiliate Marketing.
Best Jobs for Ex Teachers
If you've gone through the teacher training in your state and have at least average computer skills, you may find that one of the best jobs for ex teachers involves working from home. Although you may not have considered exactly what to do with your free time, you were smart enough to look online and see what other people think.
As a teacher, you needed to find information in the form of research and then apply it effectively to your student population. Affiliate marketing utilizes these skills in an interesting way. After joining a network of affiliates, you can peruse offers which tell you how much you will be paid to connect people with a given product. In some cases, it could be as much as seventy five percent of the cost of the item. For others it could be less.
Get a lot of smaller commissions and you have a tidy profit. Make a few large commissions and you also have a tidy profit. But make lots of both and you have a very nice profit that cost you nothing to generate unless you count the cost of your internet connection and the time you spend composing your advertising campaigns.
As a teacher, you needed to find information in the form of research and then apply it effectively to your student population. Affiliate marketing utilizes these skills in an interesting way. After joining a network of affiliates, you can peruse offers which tell you how much you will be paid to connect people with a given product. In some cases, it could be as much as seventy five percent of the cost of the item. For others it could be less.
Get a lot of smaller commissions and you have a tidy profit. Make a few large commissions and you also have a tidy profit. But make lots of both and you have a very nice profit that cost you nothing to generate unless you count the cost of your internet connection and the time you spend composing your advertising campaigns.
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