Unlock with PatreonThe Problem with CI
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Update on Blog Membership
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4 thoughts on “Update on Blog Membership”
Absolutely people need to be renumerated for their work. Can I send you a check? I don’t do pay pal it is a principle thing for me. But, I will be glad to send you the money.
Kate
We need to take the stance on our work that it deserves proper remuneration and that our time and talent is worth being paid for. In that way, we don’t act like the teachers of old. I used to be one. We need to learn to stop giving away our gold as if education and educational materials is an area where people just do that. It’s not and it shouldn’t be.
Let’s face it, most of us are in teaching because we sense some sort of calling, desire, obligation to help others. We’re certainly not in it for the money, despite the cries of the naysayers. We teachers have created a climate in which sacrifice is expected rather than honored as exceptional, and districts and others have exploited that (often unconsciously). We have also created an environment in which it is normal and accepted practice for teachers to ask for and expect materials (as well as plans, advice, etc.) from teachers who have spent a great deal of time, effort and money to create them. Somehow the thinking on both sides seems to be that we created all of that anyway, so why not just share it with everyone. Unfortunately, people generally perceive something as valuable only when it costs them something. (That’s part of the reason students have to pay me ten cents to get a second copy of a handout.) When they receive the fruits of our hard work for free, it means nothing to them.
When I was working on Ritter von heute, the medieval knight book, I asked people on a Yahoo group if anyone was interested in proofreading for me. There was no obligation or pressure, just a question. I received numerous replies from teachers who were very interested in reading the book and giving me feedback, so I sent it off to them. Two people followed up. Unfortunately, both of them said that they would be unable to follow through. One gave me initial feedback and then had some things happen in real life that prevented further reading. The other said that he realized he was too busy and needed to cut back on things. I respect both of those decisions and have had subsequent pleasant e-mail exchange. The others never replied again, once they had my text, despite numerous follow-up e-mails from me. They simply didn’t answer them. No feedback, no comments, no apologies, nothing. My perception may be in error, but I felt like I was being used simply to get a “freebie”. As a result, none of those teachers will have the opportunity to pre-read anything else I produce. Martin and Brigitte, on the other hand, have been magnificent in their responses and help. They did wonderful work proofreading the German and translating into English. I am more than happy to work with them in the future.
During development, I believe a fair recompense/trade is for someone to receive a copy of my text in exchange for feedback on what is good, what is not so good, how the work can be improved, how it can be used, ideas for lesson plans, etc. Once the work is finished, the author needs to be certain that all who have assisted are properly recompensed, and then the author needs to receive the rewards of his or her labors.
Ben has certainly expended a great deal to get this Online Professional Learning Community going and will be working hard to maintain it. He certainly has earned anything he receives from it. In addition, the monthly charge gives it value – and helps keep the uninterested out. How sad that there have been moles and saboteurs on here in the past. We need to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” in our dealings.
I really hope others of you will develop your products in an entrepreneurial spirit and help us open the floodgates of compelling input. (BTW, that’s the new name of my business: Compelling Input Productions.)
I am ready to order a classroom set of 25 whenever you get North Seas Pirate in Spanish! Also agree that people only value things that cost them something. No “free kittens” here.
can’t wait to see what other materials this group comes up with.
Lori
I like it. Now, if enough of us can get the word “compelling” into daily teacher jargon we will have done something. I asked Krashen when he started developing that particular idea and he said way back in 2000. It is time people get that word, and its mother, comprehensible. Also Robert I really feel this is so true and accurate and thank you for saying it:
…the monthly charge gives it value – and helps keep the uninterested out….
that is so key. If they don’t value it they dont’ read it, as per Robert’s experience as well. Delete button will be active this weekend!