7 to 8 Minutes
By, Michael Earnshaw
September 3, 2019
@mearnshaw158
One of the numerous qualities I love about punk rock is that there is always a perfect place and time for a show. Punk rock is about delivering a message, getting everyone involved, and birthing a fun and memorable experience. Some of the greatest shows I've ever been an active participant of were hosted in dusty garages and driveways in desire of a new coat of tar, musty unfinished basements, over sized broom closets named “Off the Alley”, and even a minuscule and cramped bowling alley in Chicago, The Fireside Bowl.
I’ll never forget the first time I was able to sing along live with one of my favorite hometown bands, 88 Fingers Louie. We were all at the Fireside Bowl, waiting to see the hardcore ska band Link 80 from California’s East Bay. The opening bands had run their sets and we were left waiting shoulder to shoulder in what is basically a long, narrow hallway. At the Fireside Bowl the bowling lanes were still functioning and took up over half of the venue. Time kept ticking away, the aroma of sweat covered punks permeated through the smoke-filled air when eventually someone received a page or message (this was before texting) that Link 80 had gotten lost and were running late. It just so happened that 88 Fingers Louie were all in attendance. Next thing I know is that they take to the small wooden stage and announce, “Alright, we’re Link 88!” Immediately they tear into my favorite tune of theirs, and to this day still one of my favorite songs of all time, “Past Mistakes.”
“Link 88” only played three tracks that night, but I'll never forget that being my first-time slam dancing to them live, unexpectedly, in my favorite venue. Looking back now there was a lot to learn from this punk rock lesson.
- 1. Timing - There’s never a bad time to teach a lesson. As educators, we must take advantage of every moment we’re with kids. This includes before and after school, passing in the halls, the cafeteria, and weekend events. Kids are depending on us. Even if it’s not our “contractual teaching time,” kids need us to take the stage and deliver at any time. It’s these impromptu lessons, the lessons we didn’t plan or prepare for, that are going to have the greatest impact on them. These are the lessons that we will be remembered for, not fractions and context clues, but the time to speak with them when they least expected it. Read more about connecting with kids in a previous blog post, “After the Show.”
- 2. Equipment – 88 Fingers Louie did not have their equipment with them that night. They were meshed into the crowd of bodies, there as fans, just like the rest of our crew. They could have easily said, “Sorry, I don’t have my drum kit...that’s not my guitar.” Instead, they used what they had in the moment to turn what could have been a bad situation into something memorable. It’s easy for educators to say, “Well yeah, it’d be much easier if our district bought that app!” Or, “That school has more funding than us so what do you expect?” Our kids deserve the best world changing lessons every day. YOU are all students need. Take advantage of what you have, your resources, and make memorable, life changing experiences for them. Stop making excuses or wishing you had the new “it” item in education. I’ll never forget when SmartBoards were first taking up residences in classrooms. My colleague, peer, and friend was an art teacher and created his own interactive white board by using a projector and Nintendo Wii remotes. Help isn’t coming. The funds many think will make their jobs easier are not on the way. We already have everything we need to deliver our message. Read more about adopting a DIY approach to education here.
- 3. Passion – When 88 Fingers Louie took the stage the three tracks they ripped through were played with just as much passion as if they were playing a planned show they created a set list, practiced, and prepared for. They knew they had fans depending on them, and while they could have easily gone on stage and just went through the motions to bide time, they knew we were counting on them. They took advantage of a moment and connected with us. I know that this small act, these three songs, helped to make them become one of my favorite bands and enjoy them that much more after this night. This small act proved that they truly loved the punk rock scene and were invested in it, and most importantly, the fans. Teachable moments are all around us, read more about them here and begin taking advantage of these times to make a difference in other’s lives.
It is crucial that we take advantage of every moment with our students and colleagues. Just because we may be having a bad day does not give us the right to bring others down with us. It’s ok, we all have those days when we can’t check every piece of baggage at the door before we enter school. We must always remember it’s never acceptable to take out what we’re going through on others, especially our kids. We must give them our all every single day. It’s the small acts that we do, the acts that seem meaningless to us, that make a world of difference to others. Taking advantage of these teachable moments is what we will be remembered for and help plant the seed in others to begin working to change the world for the better.
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