Fear not! I have no tests planned, no lectures, no school. I just want to help you stay intellectually stimulated as you waste away the summer days. I have a few things up my sleeve, but I am here today to pose a challenge, and the very name of young people is on the line, so let’s see how you take this challenge, but first a brief explanation of a few new terms.

Unbeknownst to you there is a fairly large group of teachers world wide who are constantly in a state of agitation discussing you and your learning. We are constantly sharing ideas, bickering over labels, and patting ourselves on our backs for how connected we are to you. We are known as the edublogosphere. Some of you have entered this world of academic limbo and know what I mean about the echo chamber of teachers trying to “out connect” each other. Others have never heard of it. I cannot decide which is more valuable.

Last week a new term called EduPunk was tossed into the edublogosphere and was reminiscent of chum being thrown into a sea full of sharks. Blog post were written with fury and battle lines were drawn. Our own Lindsea and Hannah were involved on Student 2.0.

I will not spend too much time going into what the label means. I expect you to that on your own. This is a good place to start. Please read the blogs, read the comments, come you with your stand on the idea. Feel free to discuss it here, but please do not get mired in discussion. This challenge is about action. As I was reading some posts and feeling my blood boil, I began to think of what something like EduPunk would look like beyond intellectual discourse. In plain English: show me EduPunk. Don’t get wrapped up in semantics and deciding whether you like the concept or not, simply produce something will show the edublogosphere and the world that you get it.

I like to think of Intrepid Classroom as an exercise in EduPunk, now I want you to show me and the world that I am right. Here is my challenge to any readers of this blog and members of Intrepid Classroom. Do a bit of research about DIY and the punk ethics and see what you can produce to show you understand the concept of punk as it relates to your learning and education. Use any tools you have at your disposable both digital and old school, then present your work on the Ning, the wiki, youtube, or your own blog. Don’s ask for clarification, don’t ask for what is acceptable; don’t ask anything just do it. Create!

We have been mired in the past by too much discussion and collaboration, so this is an independent project and it is due by the 26th of June. I would love to to a podcast on this. Who has Skype? What are some good dates? Let me know. Give me something to take back to the edublogosphere that shows you are “mad as hell and you aren’t going to take it anymore!” Or better yet, tell them yourself. Comment on the blogs you like, disagree with the ones you don’t. Don’t let the adults do all the talking. Take back your education!

I leave you with some Fugazi for inspiration. Advice: it is more effective played very loudly.Burning Too

Anytime but now
Anywhere but here
Anyone but me
I’ve got to think about my own life

We are consumed by society
We are obsessed with variety
We are all filled by anxiety
That this world will not survive

We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The sky is burning
We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The water’s burning
We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The earth is burning

Outrage
But then they say

Anytime but now
Anywhere but here
Anyone but me
I’ve got to think about my own life

This world is not our facility
We have a responsibility
To use all of our abilities
To keep this place alive

We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The sky is burning
We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The water’s burning
We gotta put it out (gotta put it out, gotta put it out)
The earth is burning

Right here
Right now
Do it. Now. Do it. Now.