The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History

I found this list from filmcritic.com - http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/The-10-Best-Teachers-in-Movie-History

Clearly missing from the list is Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte) in Teachers (1984), dealing with the ultra cool Eddie Pilikian (Ralph Macchio) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088242/ . Also, how can you leave off Professor Terguson (Sam Kinison) in Back to School (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090685/ The list was compiled in 2006, so we need to add Erin Gruwell (Hillary Swank) in Freedom Writers (2007) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0463998/ Hey, what about Dewey Finn (Jack Black) in The School of Rock (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/

If we can sneak in some principals, I'd vote for Crazy Joe Clark (Morgan Freeman) in Lean on Me (1989) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097722/ and The Principal (1987) with Rick Latimer (Jim Belushi) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093780/

The 10 Best Teachers in Movie History - filmcritic.com
10. Terry Corrigan (Class of 1984)
9. Mr. Chips (Goodbye, Mr. Chips)
8. Miss Shields (A Christmas Story)
7. Dave Jennings (Animal House) - Dean Wormer was more interesting
6. Glenn Holland (Mr. Holland's Opus) - tear jerker movie
5. Mr. Hand (Fast Times at Ridgemont High) - that's my pizza, dude!
4. Mark Thackeray (To Sir, With Love)
3. John Keating (Dead Poets Society) -all star performance
2. Jaime Escalante (Stand and Deliver) -all star performance
1. Georges Lopez (To Be and To Have)

Book Discussion/Signing for Teachers, Dec. 5

Saturday December 05, 2009

11:00 AM- 1:00 PM

Barnes & Noble@ The Avenue Forsyth

410 Peachtree Pkwy; Cumming, GA 30041, 770-781-0867

This event will feature a discussion with Forsyth County public school teachers at 11:00am, followed by a signing for all thereafter. From Barnes & Noble ...

Holiday Stress getting you down? Come join us as we welcome Author Perry Binder to our store. Perry is the Author of Unlocking your Rubber Room. In his book you will discover off-the-wall lessons to help you lighten and transform your life.

His book makes the perfect holiday gift!

Margaret Pepperdene, 89: Teacher and scholar

In my continuing effort to celebrate the brightest teaching stars, please read about Professor Margaret Pepperdene:

Dr. Margaret Jane Pepperdene had retired from Agnes Scott College after a 31-year career. The Paideia School called. They wanted her to teach junior and senior English. ...

Dr. Pepperdene taught at Agnes Scott from 1954 to 1985. She was Agnes' first Ellen Douglass Leyburn professor of English. For years, the Navy veteran, who served from 1943-1946, directed the college's Writers' Festival.
After retiring from Agnes Scott, she taught 22 years at the Paideia School. She retired in 2008, at the age of 88. ...

An only child, she had no family. Her mother died when she was a toddler; her father died when she was in grad school. A cousin and aunt have also passed away. So her family, Mr. Bianchi said, are the students she taught more than 50 years.

Continue reading:

http://www.ajc.com/news/margaret-pepperdene-89-teacher-210771.html

Lessons from the Field: Interview with Perry Binder

This interview was in http://certificationmap.com/lessons-from-the-field-interview-with-perry-binder/

Posted on November 23rd, 2009

This post is part of the Teachers Certification Map’s “lessons from the field”, a series of posts featuring passionate, inspiring educators from across the country discussing some of the lessons that they have learned over the years that would help young teachers as they embark on their careers.

Perry Binder teaches business law for undergrads and MBA students at Georgia State University in Atlanta, and is the author of Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life. He has been teaching for two decades.

What inspired you to teach?

I was practicing law full-time and was looking for something fun to do part-time. When I taught my first class, I said “I gotta somehow do this full-time!”

What classroom methods are most helpful in pushing students towards their goals?
I. Attempts at humor through “exaggerated example,” detailed in an Op-Ed I wrote, Making a case for Classroom Humor, in the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
“Exaggerate to illustrate. Paint an implausible mental picture to reinforce a topic. When we study “self-defense,” a limping crazy man wields a lumberman’s ax and approaches a student track star limbering up for a run. If the crazy man is 200 feet away, does the student have a duty to retreat, or can she pick up and use a submachine gun conveniently left on a park bench?”

II. I try to get students aware of the world around them them. For example, in my legal studies class, we study the following case:

“In a small town in West Virginia, an elementary school called Marsh Fork exists. It is downriver from a massive coal mining operation, and toxins in the air and water are making the students extremely sick. The West Virginia government has refused to build a new elementary school in a safer location. The community, afraid for its children’s lives, began the organization Pennies of Promise to raise the funds themselves.”
http://www.penniesofpromise.org/

My class project includes:
Visit the web site http://www.penniesofpromise.org/ – this web site gives news on the efforts to move Marsh Fork Elementary School in West Virginia out of harm’s way. Contact any of the following people: someone from Pennies of Promise or any other West Virginia organization with knowledge of the issues involved, a West Virginia journalist, a West Virginia legislator, a staff member in the West Virginia governor’s office, etc. Conduct a telephone or e-mail interview with this person. What did you learn from this interview about Marsh Fork, the legal system, and the coal industry.

The above project is suited for college or high school aged students. It would also be a good project for 4th or 5th graders to somehow reach out to the students at Marsh Fork Elementary.

III. I believe that if you show learners that you have a sincere stake in their futures, you have the ability to inspire them on a daily basis, and spark a “light bulb moment.” For every class, I try to live up to my own expectations through an acronym mentioned in my book:

Perry’s L. I. G. H. T. B. U. L. B. Moment for Teacher
L. isten to all learners
I. nspire them with real world discussions
G. ive hope to everyone
H. eap compliments on students for quality work
T. each to your strengths
B. e available at all times
U. nderstand that students lack your life experience or knowledge
L. earn from your learners
B. e willing to walk in anyone’s shoes

What is the one thing you wish you’d known when you started in the classroom?
How to write fair and objective exams.

What skills could more developed if you were to enroll in a teacher training program?
Writing better learning objectives and outcomes.

What would you like to improve about your teaching?
With 200 students this semester, trying to figure out a way to remember everyone’s name!

Making a Case for Classroom Humor

I never dreamed of being a college professor. Does anybody?

When my third-grade teacher asked us about our dream job, Molly said, “Astronaut.” Evan, “An actor.” Perry: “Obtain a terminal degree and lecture on legal morasses.”

Whether you teach third grade or nuclear physics, every student wants a good laugh. As teacher accountability objectives collide with shorter attention spans, laughter is the secret ingredient to keep everyone on task.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (and Maureen Downey in particular) was kind enough to publish my article as an Op-Ed piece. Click below to continue reading...

Making a case for classroom humor
By Perry Binder
8:52 a.m. Monday, November 16, 2009

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/making-a-case-for-199536.html

Spell Check doesn't work - Old School Proofing needed

Sample student typos (the reason computer Spell Check doesn’t work)

A faulty (faculty) member – maybe s/he got this one right
File a mew (new) motion
Filed on the mourning (morning) of
Going to trail (trial)
Lead (led) to believe
Singing (Signing) an Agreement
The Compliant (Complaint)
Tired (Tried) to flee the scene
Breech (breach) of contract
Break (breach) of contract
Stature (statute) of limitations
Statue (statute) of limitations

And my favorite: The plaintiff assed (assessed) her need

II. Phrases they just got wrong

Tenant (tenet) of law
Woe (whim) of the court
Legal principals (principles)
The principle point (principal)
Recover principle (principal), court costs, and interest

III. I try to get students to economize on words:

Student version: The attorney briefly insinuated the relationship of two of the board members and made it seem like they had previously made a pact with each other.

My version: The attorney insinuated that two of the board members previously made a pact.

Best Movies & Books for my Classes

A lot of my classroom references come from the big screen. Here’s a list of movies which have had the most influence on my teaching style, for various reasons. These are not necessarily my all-time favorites, just those which affected me in some way or another.

MOVIES
(in no particular order)

The Verdict with Paul Newman – slow movie, but a killer closing argument. I play about 20 minutes of this movie in my Intro to Law class
Reservoir Dogs – directed by Quentin Taurentino. Great movie. To me, a good classroom prof needs to master the art of storytelling. This movie has several good scenes with the undercover cop learning how to tell a story, details and all.
Goodfellas – One of my all-time favorites from the early 1990’s. Martin Scorsese is a master storyteller, and knows how to mix music with theme better than any director.
My Cousin Vinny – I can’t resist playing the “Yutes” scene, largely because of my heavy New York accent.
The Insider – based on a true story, a tobacco executive (Russell Crowe) blows the whistle on unethical company practices to a 60 Minutes producer (Al Pacino). I e-mailed the real life executive, Jeffrey Wigand, who had some interesting things to say about legal ethics.
Napoleon Dynamite – Huh? This movie reminds me that a lot of my students are not too many years removed from the awkward high school years. I need to constantly remind myself that they are dealing with issues which are far different from those in my life. Oh yeah, and Vote for Pedro.
Rocky I – Rocky is a survivor. He is a reminder that hard work, determination, and a will to win, are attributes which serve as a good example for my students. Say what you will about Sly Stallone, but consider this: He was a struggling working actor with a baby on the way when he wrote the script. Hollywood loved it and offered him a ton of cash, with Ryan O’Neil in mind to play Rocky. Sly had the vision to know that this character was his dream role, so he wouldn’t sell the script unless he got the part. He accepted much less money and a piece of the movie’s profits to make his dream a reality. Good decision?
Capturing the Friedmans – This documentary is about my high school chemistry teacher, who is mentioned prominently in my book.
Forest Gump – Wow. It takes writing, directing, and acting talent to pull off a movie like this. Forest reminds me that each of us is special in some way, and that we need to appreciate and respect everyone.
The Rainmaker – A movie which exaggerates the lack of ethics in law firms, starring Matt Damon and Danny DeVito. After watching this movie, my mom called me and said she understood why I like teaching and don't practice law. I got a good laugh from that.
Dead Poet’s Society – An incredible portrayal of how passionate someone can be in the classroom. Also highlights that teachers sometimes have so much influence over the direction of young adults. A huge responsibility.
Mr. Holland’s Opus – A must-rent for every aspiring or stale teacher, starring Richard Dreyfuss
Lean on Me – An inspirational high school movie starring Morgan Freeman
Teachers – A wacky and inspirational high school movie starring Nick Nolte

* * *
Here is a collection of books which have had an influence over my teaching and writing styles:

BOOKS
(in no particular order)

The Pre-Historic History of the Far Side by Gary Larsen – funniest book I’ve ever read
Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe- best written book I’ve ever read
People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn – historical perspective written about those who never get to write the history books
Buffalo Creek Disaster by Gerald Stern – best book on corporate negligence and a lawyer’s effort to hold a mining company accountable for the deaths of several miners and family members. I use this book in the Intro to Law class. Before A Civil Action, there was Buffalo Creek Disaster.
Ted Williams by Leigh Monteville & Rod Serling by Joel Engel – I love reading biographies of people who are no longer alive, so you get a perspective of their vibrancy in youth and the fragility of life toward the end.
Bright Lights Big City by Jay McInerney- a wild and dizzying book written from the hip
Fire in the Streets: America in the 1960’s – by Milton Viorst – This book discusses a lot of the volatile issues facing America in a turbulent decade.
The Fifties – by David Halberstam – This massive book offers political parallels to today, much like the movie, Good Night and Good Luck
The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne – A short story which reminds me to appreciate what you’ve got, and not obsess over trying to make a good thing perfect.
Heaven is a Playground by Rick Telander – The best sports book ever written. I had the opportunity to interview this writer about the book.
On Writing by Stephen King – The word master offers up an honest memoir and a lot of insight into his writing madness.
How to Write a Screenplay in 21 Days by Vicky King & Four Screenplays by Syd Field – Any writer can learn a lot about structure from these studies on the screenwriting process.

Motorized La-Z-Boy? DUI, e-Bay, Lawyers

ACT I - Need for Speed

Maybe you saw the story last week about the guy taking his Reclining Chair out for a spin? Motorized by a lawn mower engine, equipped with a stereo and cup holder, the guy allegedly went from zero to twenty with beer in tow.


The Star Tribune described the chair:
The chair runs on a converted gasoline-powered lawnmower engine and has a steering wheel, headlights, rear roll bars, a power antenna, stereo and cup holders. It can top out at 15 to 20 miles per hour. Stickers on the back include a National Hot Rod Association logo and one that reads, "Hell yeah it's fast."


ACT II - Need for Greed

La-Z-Boy Puts Brakes on DUI Chair Auction
Posted Nov 2nd 2009 7:00PM by TMZ Staff
Mere hours before bidding was scheduled to end on the infamous DUI La-Z-Boy-Mobile, the motorized recliner suddenly vanished from the auction -- and TMZ has learned it's all because of a battle over its name.
Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Yoeh8B


With the price at $43,100 and rising, eBay received a demand letter from the most unlikely of parties -- the La-Z-Boy corporation itself. We're told La-Z-Boy played the trademark card due to the title of the auction "La-Z-Boy DWI Chair" and eBay was forced to pull the auction.Read more: http://www.tmz.com/2009/11/02/la-z-boy-ebay-dui-chair-auction-canceled/#ixzz0W4Z4B9LN


ACT III - "Braking" News: It's not a La-Z-Boy!

Correction: Lounge Chair-Drunk Driving story
(AP)
DULUTH, Minn. — In stories Oct. 22 and Oct. 29 about a motorized recliner in which a man was arrested in Proctor, Minn., for driving drunk, The Associated Press erroneously described the recliner as a La-Z-Boy. Police in Proctor, where the recliner will be auctioned, say the brand is not La-Z-Boy.


ACT IV - Ebay Auction of DUI Chair Reposted!

View the YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dc67TWWBDf0



ACT V - Everyone's getting in on the act









Posted on ebay:




ARMCHAIR CRUISERS MOTORIZED RECLINER LAZYBOY NOT DUI

Time left:
4 days 17 hours (Nov 10, 200920:15:49 PST)
Bid history:
23 bids[Refresh]
Current bid:
US $700.00

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ARMCHAIR-CRUISERS-MOTORIZED-RECLINER-LAZYBOY-NOT-DUI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c51817176QQitemZ190345998710QQptZLHQ5fDefaultDomainQ5f100

Also on ebay: Autographed Photo Famous DWI Chair, Motorized Chair

http://tinyurl.com/yer7r53



Also on ebay: DWICHAIR.COM domain name DWI CHAIR LIVES ON FOREVER

http://tinyurl.com/yb2dyqu

How is this not front page news?

NOV. 12 UPDATE: http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

Chair buyer will not honor bid
Proctor Journal
Payment on the $10,000 bid for a motorized chair made famous by being involved in a DWI accident did not materialize.
The winning bidder for the motorized lounge chair e-mailed the Proctor Police to say he was not going to buy it. Clayton Adler wrote: “I apologize, but there seems to be a mistake. I did not mean to bid this amount, as well as I cannot afford this. I am truly sorry for the mix up and the wasted time.”
His bid was $10,099.99.

.... the chair to the next highest bidder. That bid was for $9,999.99. http://www.proctormn.com/placed/story/11-12-2009honor.html

The Final Act - Would it be DUI in Georgia?

Riding mower a motor vehicle? Ga. Supreme Court says no
By Larry Hartstein
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
12:19 p.m. Monday, November 23, 2009
Toro might be the "next level of lawn care," as its Web site claims, but a riding mower does not rise to the level of a motor vehicle, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled Monday.
At least when it comes to the motor vehicle theft law.
In a 4-3 opinion, the court reversed the conviction of a man sentenced to 10 years for stealing a lawnmower.
"To be sure, a riding lawnmower is capable of transporting people or property and of driving the street for short stretches, but that is not what the machine is designed for or how it is normally used -- there being little grass to mow on streets, and there being faster and less noisy ways of moving people and property around," Justice David Nahmias wrote for the majority.
In 2006, Franklin Lloyd Harris and two others stole a Toro riding mower worth more than $500 from a Home Depot in Dalton, drove it to Athens, Tenn., and sold it, court documents state.
As a repeat offender, Harris received 10 years in prison under the motor vehicle theft law and the Georgia Court of Appeals upheld the sentence.
While that conviction was thrown out Monday, Harris also had been convicted of theft by taking. He will be resentenced in Whitfield County on that charge alone.
Dissenting Justice Harold Melton pointed out that in the state's "chop shop" law, the term motor vehicle includes any devices "which are self-propelled but which are not designed for use upon a highway, including, but not limited to, farm machinery and construction equipment."
"This definition of ‘motor vehicle' is obviously broad enough to encompass a riding lawnmower," he continued. "Thus, if a riding lawnmower were stolen and taken to a ‘chop shop,' it would be a ‘motor vehicle' for purposes of its theft and storage and dismantling at a chop shop."

Find this article at:
http://www.ajc.com/news/riding-mower-a-motor-210291.html

Your Teaching Weaknesses versus Strengths

No matter how long you've been teaching and no matter the level (K-12 or college), we ALL have professional weaknesses to deal with. Here's one of my many flaws...

LESSON: Figure out how to compensate for your weaknesses

One of my glaring weaknesses as a professor is an inability to remember student names or recognize their faces outside of class. One time in class, a student walked up to me and said: “I saw you on campus yesterday, and you didn’t even say ‘hi’. That was rude!” I desperately tried to explain that names and faces are hard for me to recall on a huge campus.

So now, when I walk around a campus of 30,000 students, I’m compelled to wave hello to everyone I make contact with. “Hi, how goes it?!” or “Hope you’re doing well.” Four out of five of them are looking at me, like: “Do I know you?” or “Who the heck are you!?” But that fifth person, the one I should know, appreciates the hello. So I’m walking, smiling, waving, and babbling. All over campus. It’s either that, or stare at my feet as I plow towards the lecture hall.

Take Away: You know you’re imperfect - learn how to compensate.


LESSON: In stressful moments, lean on your strengths

I learned this lesson in the first class I ever taught, Introduction to American Government. I thought that we should begin at the very beginning of the text, with a discussion of the Founding Fathers and the Federalist Papers. As I started talking, I repeatedly said to myself: “You don’t know anything about this topic beyond what you read last night.” After forty five minutes of panic, sweat, and utter confusion, we took a 10 minute break. In that time, I decided to go straight to the Bill of Rights, a topic of strength. The rest of the session went very smoothly.

Take Away: Students crave value – give them your unique perspective on what you know best, not a mere recap of yesterday’s homework reading.


Excerpts from: Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life
© 2009 Perry Binder, LLC
http://www.YourRubberRoom.com

Are You a "Touch Wet Paint" Person?

What kind of child were you growing up? The kind that respected a wet paint sign, or one that found it so irresistible that you had to touch it? The decision to touch or not touch
highlights whether you are a curious person or someone who believes everything you read. Or someone who just acts on impulse.

I was showing a video in class and the students wanted me to turn out the lights in the front. Not knowing how to work the lights, I hit all of the switch buttons. Nothing worked. I
had no clue. Finally, I saw a switch which was covered over in white adhesive tape, with the obvious implied message that cried out: “Don’t touch this, you idiot!” I did. The overhead
projector and everything else electric in the room suddenly went dead.

Take Away: Curiosity will liven up the class and shut it down at the same time!

Lesson Excerpt from my book:
Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life
http://www.YourRubberRoom.com

The Writer Within You

I was on http://www.teacherlingo.com/ and read so many incredible postings today. It then dawned on me how many teachers must be in the process of publishing books or thinking of publishing books with real classroom stories or fiction.

The October 2009 issue of Writer's Digest http://www.writersdigest.com/ has a good feature (in its print edition only for now, posted online down the road) entitled "First Impressions," where writers discuss their breakthrough novel or non-fiction book. I particularly like Stephen Jay Schwartz's response to SECRET TO SUCCESS:

There's no secret to success. Success cannot be defined by one single event. The secret is in loving the process. Writers have no choice but to write, so when they are writing they are a success.

Write on, Mr. Schwartz.

Who Is The Best Teacher You Ever Had?

This post is a reminder of how many lives you touch every day, every year!

I found this link (under the topic "HEROES") with several posts on Daryn Kagan's blog - she is the former CNN anchor who set out to provide inspiring news stories.

http://darynkagan.ning.com/forum/topics/who-is-the-best-teacher-you

Sample posting:

I have had many fine teachers. I don't think I could pick just one. One thing I did findout in school was that when I liked the teacher I usually did very well. And when I didn't,I usually underperformed. I had one teacher at the University of Dayton that said I scoredthe highest out of anyone on his final. Then the next semester, in a related class, Istruggled just to pass. Good teachers have a way of inspiring us to want to learn.And I think they are one of the most underpaid professions.

Everyday Heroes

Make sure to check out New York Teacher, which features Everyday Teacher Heroes

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/heroes/

This week - Master of the universe
He’s the Captain Kirk of public education, running a tight ship from the control console so kids in the school system can take a virtual trip through the solar system.

Astronomy teacher creates Murrow planetarium to beam light on science education

http://www.uft.org/news/teacher/heroes/master_of_the_universe/

Teachers - Exaggerate to Illustrate!

Learning and retaining dense information isn’t all about laughter, though it helps. For class, I comb the internet each day for wacky law cases. After a while, I can sense which stuff gets the best laughs. Like a comic working in a club testing out new material, I constantly work on delivery, timing, and audience engagement. However, the use of exaggeration in a classroom or boardroom is not about telling jokes. In fact, I can recall telling only one joke in class:

“What’s the only thing worse than biting into an apple and finding a worm?”
“Finding half a worm!”

And that’s why I stay away from joke telling.

Exaggeration is the secret to effective learning. It requires me to plant a picture so implausible and outlandish in the learners’ minds, that they can’t help but remembering the concept. For example, I use this hypothetical to discuss the legal concept of self defense:

You: Well hello there, Mr. Limping Crazy Man wielding a lumberman’s
axe. Your blade looks mighty sharp and shiny, even from 100 yards away.
Him: Why yes, better to slice you to ribbons.
You: Hang on a second as I record this scenario on my video cell phone.
Him: Did they give you a rebate on that phone? Hey, by the way, my name
is Johnny. Heeeeeeeere’s Johnny!
You: Great. Come a step closer. And by the way, say hello to my little semiautomatic
friend!

Take Away: I believe that storytelling is a learnable skill, as demonstrated in the movie, Reservoir Dogs. In a few scenes, an undercover detective tirelessly trains a colleague on the fine art of spinning a tale. The key, he explains, is in remembering and exploiting the story’s rich details.

© 2009 Perry Binder, J.D. This passage contains excerpts from the book:
Unlocking Your Rubber Room: 44 Off-the-Wall Lessons to Lighten and Transform Everyday Life http://www.yourrubberroom.com/

Q&A on Teacher Participation in Social Media and Blogging

To Blog or not to Blog - Isn't that the question?

I sat down with Andy Payment, Director of New Media at William Mills Agency (and a superstar former student) and we discussed the following topic as it relates to companies - but there are clear analogies which may be drawn for Teacher/Employees:

Q&A on Employee Participation in Social Media and Blogging

http://www.fintechmarketing.com/?p=394

Characteristics of a Great Teacher

Best Answer, as Chosen by Yahoo Voters:
Respect, High Expectations and Humor

http://tinyurl.com/y9qj58s

I like this one:

A good teacher likes and respects students, and loves teaching.A good teacher understands learning styles, different learning and student needs, curriculum scope and sequence, and their subject matter very well.A good teacher can inspire students to want to learn.Maybe I worked in more than three, but they are connected.

Computers Replacing Teachers?

The “typical 2030 faculty will likely be a collection of adjuncts alone in their apartments, using recycled syllabuses and administering multiple-choice tests from afar.”

"Colleges, like newspapers, will be torn apart by new ways of sharing information enabled by the Internet"

"Students starting school this year may be part of the last generation for which “going to college” means packing up, getting a dorm room and listening to tenured professors. Undergraduate education is on the verge of a radical reordering. Colleges, like newspapers, will be torn apart by new ways of sharing information enabled by the Internet."

The Washington Post ran this story by Zephyr Teachout that examined a shift already underway. http://education.zdnet.com/?p=3078

Relax profs. It's not going to happen. While I see a blended use of the internet on the rise in traditional universities, we're still a brick and mortar industry. Lecture halls, dorm rooms, and libraries are not going anywhere. At least not in this century?

Teachers on Facebook - creepy or valuable tool?

Some students are recruiting professors for Facebook, prodding them to join and even creating fake profiles for them....

I use Facebook in class as a valuable learning tool about what NOT to have on a student page, as future employers may see it before hiring you!

Good article on the topic from a few years ago...

Professors find friends on facebook too

Some students are recruiting professors for Facebook, prodding them to join and even creating fake profiles for them.

http://media.www.redandblack.com/media/storage/paper871/news/2005/12/06/News/Professors.Find.Friends.On.Facebook.Too-2569914.shtml

Teacher has crazy idea

"I have a crazy idea": Those five words changed a simple meeting of school officials into the realization of Kim Ursetta's dream. ... "I want to start a new kind of school," she said, a union-sponsored public school led by teachers, not a principal.

She did it! www.cnn.com/2009/US/09/08/education.overview/index.html

Tweeting Teachers

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Professors Are Not Sold on Twitter's Usefulness
By Marc Beja

We’ve been told that college students aren't Twitter's primary audience – people under the age of 25 make up only a quarter of the service’s users. But are college professors driving up membership? Not really, a new survey from Faculty Focus shows.
According to results of a survey released this week of more than 1,900 higher-education professionals, more than half say they have never used Twitter, 30 percent use it, and nearly 13 percent tried it but decided to abandon it.

http://chronicle.com/blogPost/Professors-Are-Not-Sold-on/7821/

I haven't used Twitter for class; however, I have seen effective use of Twitter by a professor teaching the value of social networking to Public Relations students in a School of Journalism. I'm honored to speak at their upcoming conference: http://www.grady.uga.edu/connect/

Best teachers are eager to inspire students

Some more inspiring quotes, this time from teacher-turned-journalist Bev Davis of the Register-Herald in West Virginia:

- “A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.” — Patricia Neal

- “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” — William Arthur Ward

- “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” — Socrates

Article: http://www.register-herald.com/features/local_story_233214746.html?keyword=topstory

Ron Clark's Message is Universal

Atlanta is lucky to have the Ron Clark Academy based here.

Clark's message needs to be internalized by K-12 teachers and college professors, as the new school year approaches:

"If we can't be innovative in our classrooms, how can we expect our students to be innovative in life?"

Recent interview: http://www.pnj.com/article/20090814/NEWS01/908140326

On the web: http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/

Amazonian Prices

I just looked on Amazon and discovered the following prices for my book listed by independent sellers:

$28.89
+ $3.99shipping
New

$30.73
+ $3.99shipping
New

$38.44
+ $3.99shipping
New

$30.73
+ $3.99shipping
Used - Very Good

Any takers?

The book retails for $12.95 - Amazon charges a modest $11.01 ($3.99 shipping) for the book http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934938246/sr=8-1/qid=1250276742/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1250276742&sr=8-1&seller=

Or purchase directly from the publisher for $10.36 ($3.23 shipping) - enter Promo Code "RUBBER: to receive this 20% off discount.

https://www.mybookorders.com/order/default.aspx?siteid=214

Educator Starts 59th Year Of Teaching

This guy REALLY must like Math. 59 years!

"As long as I feel good, I have nothing else that I aspire to do except to be with young people and teach," said Sylvester Franklin.

Mr. Franklin has only missed two days of classes in that entire time.

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=10893401

Inspiring Quotes for Teachers

To start off the new semester, here are some great quotes to pump up teachers:

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence." -- Helen Keller

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -- Marva Collins

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." - Carol Buchner

"Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants." -- John Gardner

Bluto (Animal House): "Seven years of college down the drain."

Thornton Melon (Rodney Dangerfield in Back to School): "Good teacher. He really seems to care. About what I have no idea."

An Unfailing Belief in the Power of Teaching

An inspiring article from 2006, about a Harvard Law School graduate who left a Wall Street law firm to become an educator.

...Dr. Alonso’s realm is the mystical art of teaching young minds. Reflecting on this, in an interview at the Education Department headquarters in Lower Manhattan, Dr. Alonso quoted the Spanish poet and philosopher Miguel de Unamuno. “At some point, it is inevitable that you find yourself and it is up to you to determine whether that moment, that encounter will be about gladness or about sorrow.”

Full Text: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/26/education/26face.html

Rod Serling's Inspiring Graduation Speech - 1968

Have you ever watched Twilight Zone re-runs on TV? Serling, who wrote 92 of the 156 scripts, had a flair for the written word. Part of his childhood was spent in Binghamton, N.Y., where I attended college. The influence of upstate New York is evident in a handful of his scripts.

Twenty five years after his own high school graduation, he returned to his alma mater to deliver one of the most inspiring and timeless speeches you'll ever read.

Excerpt from Binghamton High School Commencement Speech, 1968:

... always do the things that you believe. Don't become monuments—sway with the wind. Change opinions, if the change is natural and believed. But believe in something and fight for those beliefs. Honor them by your commitment. Further them by your effort.

And what a wondrous and what an incredibly grand world you might build for your children. Now this millennium may not be in sight, let alone in reach. The route to it may be pretty damned close to impassible. It may be as distant and as complicated to reach as the moon or another solar system. BUT IT IS THERE! It's there for the taking, the asking and the fighting. And the rhetorical question—are you tough enough—I think is already answered by simply the look of you and the feeling that's in the room. Indeed, you're tough enough. And you're also human enough and sensitive enough and caring enough.

Full text: http://www.rodserling.com/01281968.htm

Keeping a Clean Rubber Room

How do you keep track of a book's readers? By the products they buy on Amazon.

I'm proud to say that UYRR readers pay great attention to personal hygiene and cleanliness.

Customers Who Bought UYRR Today Also Bought:

The Original California Mini Duster

and a few weeks ago...

Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet

I'm now inspired to clean up my own act.

Recent Book Review

Jim Pawlak of The Dallas Morning News was kind enough to review "Unlocking Your Rubber Room":

Dallas Morning News
Binder's 44 Lessons "make so much sense."
Free registration: http://tinyurl.com/kwkpsy

Reprinted in:
The Sillicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/07/06/smallb2.html

The Denton Record Chronicle
http://tinyurl.com/lzf65t

WFAA.com
http://tinyurl.com/lnyz3s

Top Ten Inspirational Graduation Speeches

From: http://www.graduationwisdom.com/speeches/topten.htm

TOP TEN SPEECHES

1. Steve Jobs at Stanford, 2006

2. Jerry Zucker at University of Wisconsin, 2003

3. Mark Lewis at University of Texas Austin, 2000

4. David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, 2005
5. John Walsh at Wheaton College, 2000

6. Michael Uslan at Indiana University, 2006

7. David L. Calhoun at Virgina Tech, 2005
8. Earl Bakken at University of Hawaii, 2004
9. Bradley Whitford at University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2006.
10. Woody Hayes at Ohio State University, 1986.

Student hopes to go from homeless to Harvard

Please keep sending these inspirational stories...

Honor student lives at shelter in L.A.'s Skid Row, one of the city's roughest areas
Kenneth Chancey, 17, hopes to go to Harvard and become a doctor
"I have to dream because obviously my reality is horrible," he says
Chancey is student body president and star football player at Hollywood school

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Kenneth Chancey, 17, walks down the littered streets of Skid Row, one of the roughest areas of Los Angeles. Drug deals are made around him. A man screams at his girlfriend. The stench of the place is overwhelming.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/06/24/homeless.to.harvard/index.html

My Graduation Speech to Students

When I participate in graduation ceremonies, I often imagine delivering my own speech to the graduates, as if I were the commencement speaker:

Good morning Chancellor, President, Deans, Faculty Members, Staff, Students, Friends, and Family Members. Welcome.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and before we can shower accolades on the superstars before me, I’d love to recognize the superheroes that got them here. So if you’re a mom of a graduate, please stand up for some applause. Keep standing! If you are a grandmother of a graduate, please stand up as well for applause. Keeeeeeeep standing grandma! If you are a graduate, and YOU are a mom as well, please rise for applause. Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in recognizing these miracle workers, for without their encouragement and sacrifice, we would not be here today honoring the bright future of our graduates.

To the graduates:
Every one of you is special.
Every one of you is a productive member of society.
Every one of you is what inspires ME - because…
Every one of you has a story to tell.

I just wish I had the time to hear every one of them, and to be there as your career paths unfold.
You have already accomplished a huge milestone on that journey. The biggest step though was just showing up. That’s it. The secret most people don’t get until it’s too late. Just showing up as young freshmen was a threshold event. Trying something which may be hard for the first time. Experiencing new things, even if it’s unknown whether the objective is attainable.

To me, the greatest barriers to success, however you define that, are a fear of the unknown, a fear of change, and a fear of failure. But you need a game plan, and hopefully you can lean a little on what you learned in school to figure out that route. No matter what you do in life, you always will have your education.

I hope you made some lifelong friends here. Frankly, I learned more about life from my peers than from my professors. And I hope you got more than knowledge from your profs because you can get that from a book. I’m hoping you gained insight on whatever subject, and then stamped your own original perspective on how to resolve issues and solve problems.

Many times the things you do won’t work. And you will fail at some things you try. That’s just a fact of life.

Abraham Lincoln once said: “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.”

And you will make mistakes. A lot of them! Both in your careers and your lives. That’s just another fact of life.

But that’s okay. The trick is figuring out how to deal with setbacks. Your family and friends will always be there for you. And your education will continually serve as a foundation to get you back on track.

[omitted text]

To quote Franklin D. Roosevelt, “We are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of our own minds.” Graduates, each of you must unlock your mind – your rubber room – and blaze a path built on reason and purpose. Life is too short to spend it bouncing around like a random and aimless ball in a game of Pong.® And whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, or 80 years young, it is never too late to test the boundaries of your dreams.

Finally, I want all of you gathered in front of me to please lose the title of “former” student, because you will be my students for many years to come. And I expect in return that I can become your student, as I learn about your professional successes, trials, and tribulations.

Every one of you is special.
Every one of you is a productive member of society.
Every one of you is what inspires me – because...
Every one of you has a story to tell.

What will your next journey be?

Excerpt: Unlocking Your Rubber Room

© 2009 Perry Binder LLC

L. I. G. H. T. B. U. L. B. Moments

As an entering college freshman, I was directionless. During my second semester, I had a memorable English class and for reasons unclear to me, my learning cloud just seemed to lift. Things “clicked” because the professor’s keen interest in the subject was infectious and motivated me. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking on how best to connect with people to get them excited and engaged, whether in a classroom, boardroom, or bored room.

I believe that if you show learners that you have a sincere stake in their futures, you have the ability to inspire them on a daily basis, and spark a “light bulb moment.” For every presentation, I try to live up to my own expectations through an acronym:

Perry’s L. I. G. H. T. B. U. L. B. Moment for Teachers, Trainers, and Mentors

L. isten to all learners

I. nspire them with real world discussions

G. ive hope to everyone

H. eap compliments on people for quality work

T. each to your strengths

B. e available at all times

U. nderstand that people may lack your life experience or knowledge

L. earn from your learners

B. e willing to walk in anyone’s shoes

Have you found your light bulb moment?

From LESSON 44 - UYRR

Excerpt: Unlocking Your Rubber Room
© 2009 Perry Binder LLC

It's Laugh, Think & Act. NOT Laugh, Act & Think!

Early morning last weekend, I was psyched to get on the road for a 5-hour drive to the beach. Everything was packed and all I had to do was load the car, as the restless wife, kids, and yes - mother-in-law - waited to pile in. So I opened the garage, popped up the SUV rear hatch and started loading. Suitcases. Boogie board. Food. Had it all. Running back and forth like a mad man, chucking stuff in. In the middle of loading, "Ugh," I exclaimed. Better pull out the car out of the garage so the mom-in-law can get in easily.

CRUNCH.

I forgot that the hatch was up, and the edge of it smacked into the lip of the garage door. Well, the car was fine but a roller on the door was knocked out of the rail. No biggie. Sit the mum-in-law back down, give the kids a toy and the wife a sedative. And I'll get the roller on the rail. So I roll it on the rail, only to discover that the other rail was knocked out of whack a drop. I tried my feeble best to fix it, but it was beyond my capabilities. Usually not a big deal -- just call the garage people and get it fixed, but we were out the door and hitting the road, so I needed to get the darn thing shut and deal with it upon our return.


I gingerly tweaked the rail with a screw driver. Plucked at it with some pliers. Nothing. Kids yelling, dog barking, I knew it was time to kick it into high gear. Wrenches flying. Bolts spinning. Still nothing. Metal pieces were getting stuck and wedged and getting worse. Time for the heavy artillery. I got the hammer and started wailing on the infringing metal. Five, ten minutes. Sweat pouring down. I was like a blacksmith with an anvil, smacking on a horseshoe for an impatient mare. Twenty minutes in, a huge crash brought that door down. Went inside and declared to all: "Piece of cake. Let's go!"

As we're pulling away, I start thinking. "Hmmmmmm, maybe I shouldn't have left my own car inside. What if we can't get the garage door fixed right away? I'll need to be shuttled everywhere in this kiddie mobile I'm driving. This really upset me, because I try to live by the motto of "Laugh, Think & Act through everyday situations." Instead, I went this route:

Laugh - I did find humor in my bonehead backup
Act - Mad man with a hammer
Think - It would be nice to have my own car next week

I tell this story because I like to point out my own shortcomings and hopefully find a lesson in it. It's easy to write down a catchy motto, but we need to remind ourselves to live by our messages each day. Just because it's in print, doesn't mean the messenger is so perfect. In fact, my book points out that "great words are far greater than the person who utter them, and the real hard work is putting those words into action." (page 125)

The good news -- I called the garage people from the beach, we got home yesterday, they fixed it today, and my car is out and FREE. Though the lesson wasn't. Cost me two bills for new material to incorporate into my next speaking engagement.

Borders Book Signing - Alpharetta/Suwanee, GA

Thank you again to Wanda, Jan, Steve, and the rest of the Borders staff for a fun day.

Many Upcoming Events, including:

Thursday, June 11, 2009 - 7:00pm-8:00pm

Ocee Library - Book Reading/Discussion

5090 Abbotts Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA

September 5, 2009 (Time TBA) - Decatur Book Festival - Georgia Authors' Stage

The Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country and one of the five largest overall. Since its launch, more than 600 world-class authors and 190,000 festival-goers have crowded the historic downtown Decatur square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, an interactive children's area, live music, parades, cooking demonstrations, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more.

Armed Banana robbery attempt fails in N.C.

Good story for the first day of class...

Authorities thwarted a guy who tried to rob a store with a banana, but ate it before police could arrive. The 17-year-old held the banana under his shirt when he entered the store, saying he had a gun and demanded money.

This caper reminds me of Woody Allen as inmate Virgil Starkwell, trying to make a prison break with a gun carved out of a bar of soap (Take the Money and Run, 1969). Woody should've looked up http://www.weather.com/ for chance of showers, as the gun turned to soap bubbles.

What's not funny: If this were Georgia and banana guy got convicted as an adult, he would face a MANDATORY MINIMUM of 10 years in prison (no more than 20 on a first offense). Here's part of Georgia's Armed Robbery statute:

Under Georgia Statute, a person commits the offense of armed robbery when, with intent to commit theft, he takes property of another from the person or immediate presence of another by use of an offensive weapon "or any replica, article, or device having the appearance of such weapon."

Virgil and Banana Guy's only viable legal argument - from Woody's 1971 movie, Bananas:

I object, your honor! This trial is a travesty. It's a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.

From Rubber Rooms to Rubber Soles

I got to campus early today and saw a former student standing in a long line with friends and others - camping out in front of a store. "Concert tickets?," I asked. "U2? 40 Cent? (even 50 is downsizing in this economy)" "No." "Dorm room assignments? "Nah."

"Then what?"

"Yeezy."

"Wheezy? From The Jeffersons?"

"No, Yeezy. Nike Air Yeezy - Kanye West .

According to my student, 24 pairs were delivered to this particular store. Anyone ever remember camping out for sneaks? I was afraid to ask the price, so I looked it up online...

Shopping results for Nike Air Kanye West price
Ds Nike Air Yeezy Kanye West Hoh Quickstrike Sz 9
$999.99 - eBay

Ouch. From Wikipedia: After years of work that West underwent in order to established himself as an artist, after dropping out of college to pursue his dream of becoming a musician, he emerged into the mainstream with his debut studio album. (The College Dropout is the debut album)

Kanye -- Are you footing this student's tuition in the Fall?

What is a "Smart Alec"?

In my Profile, I list that I'm a "Smart Alec" law professor. A wiseguy, a prankster, a troublemaker? For clarification, I turned to Wikipedia (so it must be true):

"The phrase "smart alec" arose from the exploits of Alec Hoag, a thief, and confidence man operating in New York City in the 1840s.

Yikes - I thought I was being smart!

A Water Pik, a Window Display, a Book Bargain

What have we learned since February when UYRR first released?

1. UYRR readers have superior dental hygiene. An Amazon reader also purchased the Waterpik Ultra Dental Water Jet.

Yes, Jet.

2. How much is the bookie in the window?

On April 17, I found this in the "Used" section for Unlocking Your Rubber Room.......
$1,000.00 + $3.99 shipping Used - Very Good

Rating:91% positive over the past 12 months (13212 ratings.) 34335 lifetime ratings.

Shipping: In Stock. See Shipping Rates. See return policy. Comments: Very Good Condition - Satisfaction Guaranteed - May have been withdrawn from library circulation -- LIFTED FROM LIBRARY CIRC???

Realizing that the book appreciated too quickly (list price is $12.95), the seller quickly reduced the price to a more reasonable and modest...

$43.55 + $3.99 shipping

Any takers? Visit: http://tinyurl.com/cl94la

Your Rub-ber Room (noun)...

... A confining mindset where thoughts and possibilities bounce aimlessly.


Welcome to Unlocking Your Rubber Room - I'll post lessons from my book and new lessons learned along the way. The book offers a message of hope in difficult times: Everyone has to laugh, think and act through everyday situations. The things I emphasize are humor, passion, compassion and preparation.

From the back of the book...

In Unlocking Your Rubber Room, lawyer-turned-teacher Perry Binder offers 44 lessons which emphasize that preparation, passion, and compassion are the keys to unlocking our confining mindsets -- our figurative "rubber rooms." Perry's hilarious and original stories, like "Figure out if you are a 'Touch Wet Paint' person," are distilled from years of painstaking trials and errors. This book contains novel law tips, including how to get a lawyer to return your call, or which three items you must possess when dining out.


And its provocative anecdotes -– when to start a street fight and when to lay low in the weeds -- motivate you to laugh, think, and act through everyday situations. Knowing how to work the legal system opens doors to solving your personal and professional dilemmas. Ultimately, Unlocking Your Rubber Room inspires you to be adventurous, take risks, and learn new things about yourself -- just as the author confesses he discovered when writing this book.