Hello Beautiful People,
Recently I had the most epic of Teachsperience’s.
And it’s funny that such a thing would happen when school’s out – but, then again, sometimes it’s the time outside of a classroom that the most important lessons are learned, yes?
Yes.
Did you hear me?
YES.
Recently I met an artist I admired. Like, really admired.
And that’s where the hugs and butterflies and happy thoughts stop.
Cause it was the furthest thing from a pleasurable experience.
And that’s where I’ll stop with that, cause hey, we’re all about keepin’ it positive here, REMEMBER?
Alas, I digress.
In this little encounter with this person that shall not be named, I divulged a dilemma that I was facing – a school that I loved, that I admired, that I so very much wanted to be part of, wanted me to teach Theatre there part time, and direct 3 shows.
The dilemma?
They wanted to pay me $7500.
This person scoffed, “What’s the problem?”
Oh gee, I don’t know – how does one live on $7500 dollars?
Oh gee, I don’t know – I went to GRADUATE SCHOOL FOR THEATRE EDUCATION. I have qualities that they want, admitedly. But yet…they don’t want to pay for my experience.
So? Sweetheart, we don’t do this for money. We do this for the children.
…..cue the part where I wanted to smack a person. (But didn’t.)
…cue the part where an internal monologue started in my head, but I didn’t say it, because, well, sometimes it’s easier to write things down.
For those of you that are as misguided as this “person” reaping the benefits of the entertainment industry, allow me to illuminate some truths for y’all.
TEACHING is not a lisence to get people to do things for free. If you’re making a living as an artist in NYC, and want to lend your services to “teach” – hey man, go for it. I think that’s awesome. But don’t you dare for one second start to disvalue what public educators are doing for a living.
See, public school teachers work because they love kids, because they want to make a difference, because they love to educate…
…but they need to eat.
…and they don’t live a bicoastal life from LA to NYC. Or intercontental from London to New York, chosing to work with kids whenever it works for their production schedule.
Public school teachers are there, everyday, working with kids. They put the time in for college, grad school, state certification tests. They have to deal with the Common Core and APPR Standards. They deal with the stuff that is FAR from glamourous. And yes, they put up with it because, in their hearts and in their core…they love what they do.
But, let’s not get it twisted…
…having passion for education and a desire to help the youth of America does not mean that they should be properly compensated for what they do.
Just as you should pay for the music that you want to listen to – you should pay teachers a salary that is commesurate with their experience and knowledge.
There’s not one public school teacher in this country that went into teaching to become a millionaire, (if there are those who did think that, I’d have to question their sanity) – teachers do go into it, to help.
But just because you want to help, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get paid.
Whatever your job may be, you deserve to get paid properly for the work that you do.
You’re worth it.
Live, Love, Learn,