| BWZ Book Review |
Unbelievably Good Deals That You Absolutely Can't Get
Unless You're a Teacher by Barry Harrington and Beth Christensen Contemporary Books |
The only limitation of this book is its title. Don't mind the title's awkwardness, that's part of the fun. The Unbelievably Good Deals... series includes a book for people over 50, and a forthcoming book for parents. However, Unbelievably Good Deals That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're a Teacher could just as easily been titled "...Unless You're A Teacher, Parent, or Kid." Stay with me here--this book is an interesting concept.
I interviewed Barry Harrington and Beth Christensen, the husband
and wife team who created the book. Harrington's writing and charity activism
work came together with Christensen's background in counseling and teaching,
one night in 1992 as they discussed the problems of getting together the
necessary materials for classroom activities.
"Beth was explaining how she had to spend some huge sum on Thanksgiving for her students. I would never begrudge these kids anything, but I was shocked that teachers spent that much of their own money on classroom activities. We were struggling on our own income as it was."
"As a teacher, you get nothing as a salary, first of all," Christensen comments. "Then the school does give you a hundred dollars, but you have to pay for expenses out of pocket, and turn in receipts. The problem is that there is a tremendous shortfall that the state and federal government can't and doesn't cover. In fact they ignore this need. We need money for all sorts of things, from cupcakes to microscopes. So here you are given one hundred dollars, a low salary, and on top of it all you really are spending not one hundred dollars but closer to one to three thousand dollars of your own money."
"These kids who are at the center of this shortfall are going to be looking for work in 10 years. We as a society aren't offering them a hopeful future."
Harrington and Christensen discussed how many resources are out there, if only teachers would "work it".
"The book started out to be a `How To Do It' book on approaching community relations divisions of any local company," Harrington recalls. "The same companies who are going to cough up money to support sports teams may just buy plants for your classroom. The perks can be big. Companies are getting more involved with mentorship programs, bring your daughter to work day, bring your mom to school day, etc. Colgate cleaned up an entire school in Harlem a few years ago. People gave their Saturdays to paint classrooms and be role models. Computer companies will wire entire schools for Internet access for free. There are many reasons companies do this stuff, from having an interest in community investment, to simply polishing their images. The book explains how to do it, and lists every single contact you'll need. Theory was blended with fact-filled listings and carries world betterment themes: anti-racism, pro-environment, pro-global awareness, pro-tolerance.
"I opened the book with a discussion of my favorite story, 'The Toynbee Convector,' which was written by Ray Bradbury. A time-traveler goes one hundred years into the future and comes back with a cheer of joy saying, 'We did it! We stopped war, cancer, and death. We cleaned the oceans and the rivers. We've learned to live in harmony, with peace amongst all. O great spires of the future arise!' And the people ran to build that future. Years later, the Time Traveler admits that it was all a lie. He had gotten sick of the negativity of his time, and knew what the people had lost was hope. So he threw some hope out in front of the people, and what did they do? They discovered joy again. They built the future, shimmering and shining."
I asked Harrington if that's what he thought he could do.
"Not alone, no. But with groups of other people, other organizations, I see a very bright future. And the irony is, it will be created by the generation who is saying--like Johnny Rotten said when I was a kid--that there's 'No Future.' Until you paint on the canvas, there's no painting either. I am optimistic and realistic. Some people will never get it. Others will: the small handful who will shape our world."
Harrington's next project?
"Seriously? I'd like to put this book in every governor's hand and have them tackle education and the future during an election year. I'd like to find some schools that need a boost, match them with some corporations that can help, and see what we can do. Bring the mayors of big cities into this. All major companies have these freebies, even if it's science research equipment for 100 students. Get the senior citizens out of homes and into the schools to talk about their era, what that piece of history was like. Likewise, have kids discuss their feelings, and bridge the ridiculous gap we have in this country between our greatest assets: the young and the old.
"I'm happy to speak with, and give public relations coverage to, any school in trouble, or any community leader who wants to take charge.
"I dare them to prove that positive change can't happen. Of course one can just give up or feel defeated because of the shortfalls of The System and quit trying, thus easily 'proving' positive change can't happen."
Christensen adds, "To make positive change, we have to try to solve problems one step at a time; don't let The System or this negative era make you hopeless or frustrated! YOU create the new system by involving your community, local and national industries, your students and staff, to create a classroom where the needs and passions of your students can be brought to fruition."
"This is the time to do it."
Barry Harrington can be reached at:
email: barry.harrington@magnets.com
Tel.: (510) 376-4109
Unbelievably Good Deals That You Absolutely Can't Get Unless You're a Teacher is available in major chains and independent bookstores nationwide. You can also buy it by calling 1-800-540-9440.
BARRY HARRINGTON thanks Ted Olsen, David Russ, and Christopher Russell of The Human Corporation for their endless support and mutual brainstorming; and Bill Thompson and Ray Bradbury, for their encouragement and inspiration.
BETH CHRISTENSEN has a Master's degree in counseling, and teaches in Richmond, CA.
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