I remember feeling uncomfortable with two things: 1) was I a pawn for their corporate mission and 2) how was I chosen.

What I discovered was A) I want people to have and use and benefit from Apple products. I genuinely think they are terrific. I was willing to be an advocate for Apple because I think they have the best stuff… PERIOD. The ancillary gifts or tools that they offered were besid the point. So, if I was a pawn for them, so be it… we all pick our terms. I didn’t see myself as a pawn, but as an advocate for kids and teaching and learning and that, to me, Apple was the best thing for them. If that is naive, okay, fine. If folks genuinely think that things are calculated that way… I think I differ.

B) I was chosen based on merit. Some folks were chosen to help business from the specific account or area they came from. Some were gifted teachers and administrators, some were gifted with political power to help Apple achieve their mission. One ADE was not the same as the other…

Later I worked at Apple and advocated for people to become ADE’s and ALWAYS chose folks who I thought would inspire and advocate and be a great part of that community. The adult world is more complex than white hats vs. black hats… the really good guys are where you find them…sometimes they are working in classrooms as teachers, sometimes they are working for a corporation, sometimes they are across the counter…

The value is in the people you’ll meet, not the brand who is bringing them together.

Me too.

I am in education support, not the classroom, but Woodward’s comment about booth giveaways is certainly no different for us. A few months ago in New Orleans I declined a vendor’s offer to provide them with a ton of my contact information and detailed facts about my university’s current software needs so they could pitch tens of thousands of dollars worth of product to the decision maters. “Thanks, I have as many foam squeeze-balls as I need.”

I am reminded of what’s become a very common phrase and is believed to have originated on Metafilter: “If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.” I’d modify that in this case to say that if you’re getting paid in ego strokes or equipment you couldn’t otherwise get then you’re being asked to be the shill.

certify
4. To declare to be in need of psychiatric treatment or confinement.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/certified

Eric: Personally, I’m an Target Elite Educator and Certified Tandy Dandy Teacher.

LOL’d in my pants right there.

Ben: Because we as educators should be encouraging our students to pursue menial jobs in which they will be required to work long hours in a position that requires very little skill, but demands you accept lots of punishment from the public. Is that right, or did I read your post wrong?

Well, I mean, you’re putting a lot of words in my mouth.

Personally, I’m an Target Elite Educator and Certified Tandy Dandy Teacher.

Awesome teachers like me shop at Target and use Radio Shack electronics.

Apple trying to push educators to sell a career in retail as a sound life decision? Because we as educators should be encouraging our students to pursue menial jobs in which they will be required to work long hours in a position that requires very little skill, but demands you accept lots of punishment from the public. Is that right, or did I read your post wrong?