View Full Version : iFanboy Nation: A Teacher's Call to Arms
As some of you may or may not know, I am a teacher by trade. I teach special education Algebra 1 & 2 at a struggling school in the city of St. Louis, and surprisingly, I need the iFanbase's help.
This year, our school is implementing a new literacy program in the building. The goal of the program is simple: get kids to read outside of school. Last year, as the year wound down, I decided to do a little experiment with some of my old comics. I brought them in and left them for the students to read if they finished tests or assignments early. And they ate them up.
So, I was pondering about this today as I sat in hours of meetings about how we're going to meet our literacy goals, and an idea burst into my mind. I am going to create a comic book lending center in my room.
The problem is I don't really have a ton of old comics in my possession, and being a teacher, I'm too damn poor to go buy bricks of them at a time. So here's my thought:
If you have old comics and trades that you are looking to get rid of, I will take them. I can't promise that I can pay for them, but I will pay you for shipping costs. And they can be any comic in any condition (of course, I don't want a bunch of your porno comics...you know who you are). I'm looking for superhero, independent, and non-superhero stuff that you are looking to get rid of. Anything that any of you can provide would be most excellent.
If you're interested in this send me an e-mail at ben_lovati@yahoo.com, private message me, or just post on this thread. I'm not really in any rush to get the books, so at your earliest convenience is most excellent.
I thank all of you ahead of time for any help you can give in this endeavor. Or for at least reading this long ass post. :)
paper
08-04-2008, 10:15 PM
Very cool. I'd love to contribute some single issues.
six-gun
08-04-2008, 10:16 PM
CRAP! I just donated 150 singles to my local Goodwill.
I still think I have some trades. I'll look!
kwok_talk
08-04-2008, 10:43 PM
Great idea. I'll definitely hook you up with some stuff. I'll email you later when I get home and figure out how to drop them off to you. I hope those kids enjoy foil-covered Silver Sable #1.
hank41
08-05-2008, 12:46 AM
what you're doing is really great. keep it up!
I hope those kids enjoy foil-covered Silver Sable #1.
I think the real question is: Who wouldn't enjoy a foil covered Silver Sable?
Thanks, for the feedback guys. Again, if you want to contribute, just e-mail me at ben_lovati@yahoo.com, and we'll hash out shipping arrangements and how I send you the money to ship them to me.
Viva literacy!
droracle
08-05-2008, 04:31 AM
I have loads of comics that I can donate. I'll go through them this weekend and next to see what I can provide for you, then we can hash out the details.
Great idea and a worthy cause for donation.
conorkilpatrick
08-05-2008, 04:49 AM
I think I have a couple of extra copies of Lost Girls around here somewhere...
scherem
08-05-2008, 05:04 AM
At the literacy panel at SDCC this year they mentioned the following book, Scrapyard Detectives. You can order a class set for free of any issue, and they have lesson plans associated with it on the website. The book is all ages appropriate with a focus on diversity. They are also available in both English and Spanish.
Website is here: http://www.smilesfordiversity.org/scrapyard.php
owlboy
08-05-2008, 05:46 AM
I think I have a couple of extra copies of Lost Girls around here somewhere...
Evil, evil man
I'll see what I can do.
traingoboom
08-05-2008, 06:27 AM
I currently go to mizzou, but I'll be in st. Louis area this weekend let me see if i can track down all of my old single issues as I'd really like to support this cause.
I think I have a couple of extra copies of Lost Girls around here somewhere...
Only if you tape over all of the boobs...and mommy parts. I recommend black electrical tape.
I want to thank everyone who's sent me e-mails offering books so far. The response has been really great...so much so, that I think I'm going to have extra comics to share with our feeder middle schools. Let's keep this up people. Maybe, just maybe, the youth of the STL will be comic book fans!
At the literacy panel at SDCC this year they mentioned the following book, Scrapyard Detectives. You can order a class set for free of any issue, and they have lesson plans associated with it on the website. The book is all ages appropriate with a focus on diversity. They are also available in both English and Spanish.
Website is here: http://www.smilesfordiversity.org/scrapyard.php
Thanks for pointing this one out! I'm going to apply for it tomorrow when I go to school. Who knew things like this existed? Very, very exciting.
mttskates
08-06-2008, 06:17 AM
I think I have a couple of extra copies of Lost Girls around here somewhere...
If you take these, you'd better have enough hall passes printed up for bathroom breaks :O)
If you take these, you'd better have enough hall passes printed up for bathroom breaks :O)
If the PTA got wind of this...oh boy...the shit storm alone would cause the Black Plague at our school.
miyamotofreak
08-06-2008, 10:06 PM
I think I have a couple of extra copies of Lost Girls around here somewhere...
I see what you did there.
mrmister
08-10-2008, 08:33 PM
This is awesome. As a fellow teacher in a struggling inner-city school I wish you the best of luck!
valoharth
08-10-2008, 08:45 PM
I will see if I have anything that would work.
Thanks to the guys for giving me a shout out on the show. Remember all, if you want to donate some stuff, just shoot me an e-mail and we'll hammer out the details.
The iFanbase rocks!
I just wanted to say a big thank you to those of you who have offered to donate the comics. So far, I've had several people offer long boxes and small stacks of comics and trades, which is so amazing because each one of these books could be helping a child fall in love with reading! I'm really excited to get my students reading and excited about comics.
I've been telling some people about it at school, and I've had nibbles to make it a departmental program! Crazy to think such things could happen. Hopefully, with the comics we get, we'll see this bad boy blossom.
I want to thank the iFanboys for promoting this thing as it was way above and beyond what I expected. Thanks so much guys.
I check this regularly, so if you want to get in touch you can post something here.
esophagus
08-12-2008, 05:21 AM
I hate that this happened right after I moved! I've got some trades that I didn't feel worthy enough to pack hidden in my attic six hours from here.
Its an awesome thing you're doing though!
I just want to give a shout out to Vejay, a fellow STL resident who met up with me at the ever amazing Star Clipper and donated an amazing amount of comics. He couldn't have been nicer, and it's so awesome that the iFanoy nation has members like him.
And there was one other thing we agreed on: The iFanboy Forum is one of the nicest places to be. So give youselves a pat on the back, a pump of the fist, and have a beer at your awesomeness.
pandahotdog
08-13-2008, 12:45 AM
I don't believe you. You can get books for kids in public schools or have them buy them. Gimme a break. I want to see pictures or proof.
pandahotdog
08-13-2008, 12:50 AM
Kids don't like to read comics. Why would you put them through that torture? I say, "Who needs literate children?"
Kids and books are like oil and vinegar. They don't go together. Books are like so bad for children. Do we as a nation really need our kids reading those awful books? I ask you this? Once kids learn to read, they may learn to write, and they may learn to think. Do we need children who think?
I think it's a dangerous proposition. Keep the books out of children's hands. They're much better watching cable television or pro wrestling. Show me a kid who doesn't appreciate the violence of a good Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith movie. What kid should have to be without their own personal television in their room with all the movie channels turned on?
Can we as a nation afford to let those dangerous books near our children?
esophagus
08-13-2008, 12:58 AM
I don't believe you. You can get books for kids in public schools or have them buy them. Gimme a break. I want to see pictures or proof.
Please tell me you are kidding? Go ahead and don't send your books in, but don't give the guy a bad rep for doing a great thing.
I don't believe you. You can get books for kids in public schools or have them buy them. Gimme a break. I want to see pictures or proof.
No scam here sir, none at all. Being the collector I am with the lack of complete and utter storage space for the comics I do have, I have no reason to run a scam nor would I take advantage of people's charity.
Pictures are forth coming. Currently, my digital camera is with my fiance, who's finishing up a medical school clinical in the next few weeks. Also, I needed some time to get everything together...it's kind of a bitch to catalog so many comics.
Kids don't like to read comics. Why would you put them through that torture? I say, "Who needs literate children?"
Kids and books are like oil and vinegar. They don't go together. Books are like so bad for children. Do we as a nation really need our kids reading those awful books? I ask you this? Once kids learn to read, they may learn to write, and they may learn to think. Do we need children who think?
I think it's a dangerous proposition. Keep the books out of children's hands. They're much better watching cable television or pro wrestling. Show me a kid who doesn't appreciate the violence of a good Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith movie. What kid should have to be without their own personal television in their room with all the movie channels turned on?
Can we as a nation afford to let those dangerous books near our children?
Now you're just sound like you're from Apokalips... :)
All I gotta say is that I read these when I was kid, and I turned out just fine...at least...I think I did. ;)
I hate to string continuous posts like this, but pandahotdog's post got me thinking...how do you know I'm for real.
Well, we all know from my e-mail address that my real name is Ben Lovati. I teach at Hazelwood East High School in Saint Louis. I've linked the school's website here (http://hsdportal.hazelwood.k12.mo.us/SchoolsAndPrograms/HighSchool/HazelwoodEastHighSchool/Pages/default.aspx) to show that it does exist as well as a link that shows me on the staff roster (http://hsdportal.hazelwood.k12.mo.us/AboutUs/Lists/Email%20List/AllItems.aspx). (Click on the Building Tab labeled "East." I'm halfway down...)
I can understand if someone really thought this way, so hopefully, it will add some legitimacy to what I'm doing.
jaflanagan
08-13-2008, 03:31 AM
Ron, Conor and myself completely vouch for Ben also.
gungadin
08-13-2008, 04:26 AM
Kids don't like to read comics. Why would you put them through that torture? I say, "Who needs literate children?"
Kids and books are like oil and vinegar. They don't go together. Books are like so bad for children. Do we as a nation really need our kids reading those awful books? I ask you this? Once kids learn to read, they may learn to write, and they may learn to think. Do we need children who think?
I think it's a dangerous proposition. Keep the books out of children's hands. They're much better watching cable television or pro wrestling. Show me a kid who doesn't appreciate the violence of a good Quentin Tarantino or Kevin Smith movie. What kid should have to be without their own personal television in their room with all the movie channels turned on?
Can we as a nation afford to let those dangerous books near our children?
Maybe if the books were better written, or we gave students reasons to love comics or reading. Look at Harry Potter. Don't tell me all those people hate to read, because they obviously don't... And it's not all adults, neither... There are adults who hate reading, but give a kid a compelling book that they'll love and I can guarantee you they'll love reading...
esophagus
08-13-2008, 04:40 AM
Maybe if the books were better written, or we gave students reasons to love comics or reading. Look at Harry Potter. Don't tell me all those people hate to read, because they obviously don't... And it's not all adults, neither... There are adults who hate reading, but give a kid a compelling book that they'll love and I can guarantee you they'll love reading...Go through his other posts. Hes just a troll.
tokenuser
08-13-2008, 05:19 AM
I don't believe you. You can get books for kids in public schools or have them buy them. Gimme a break. I want to see pictures or proof.I'd like to see proof that you have something other than negative to say about anything.
Schools have finite budgets, and especially in the area of reading - rely upon the goodwill of people donating books. The fact that Neb is encouraging kids to read via comic books is a great thing.
Suggest that in future, if you can't contribute to a topic like this in a positive way that you step out of the thread and just STFU. Same goes for other forums that you "contribute" to at Revision3.
gungadin
08-13-2008, 06:01 AM
Go through his other posts. Hes just a troll.
I did and he is, but that doesn't mean that what he's saying doesn't have merit in other people's ears... I just thought I'd throw out a counterargument...
valoharth
08-13-2008, 04:35 PM
Remember people Trolls can regenrate 1d4 + level each round and any thing you cut off can grow into a new troll... :rolleyes: The best way to fight a troll is to just run away! I'm such a D&D geek.
I haven't dug into my comic collection yet, but the books that I keep thinking of might be a bit much for a school setting. Would a set of Runnaways minus the Joss Whedon HC be good? Neb could you do a small list of what you have already?
Would a set of Runnaways minus the Joss Whedon HC be good? Neb could you do a small list of what you have already?
I don't have a running list, as I have quite a bit already (maybe half a long box, unbagged and boarded), but I'll take duplicates of stuff I already have. It's a lending library, so people just borrow them. If you'd like to donate Runaways that would be excellent, but I do know that our library already has those small digests.
On a side note, I had a student stop by, who's not in my class, and borrow three comics. That's pretty farkin' awesome.
pandahotdog
08-14-2008, 12:08 AM
I'd like to see proof that you have something other than negative to say about anything.
Schools have finite budgets, and especially in the area of reading - rely upon the goodwill of people donating books. The fact that Neb is encouraging kids to read via comic books is a great thing.
Suggest that in future, if you can't contribute to a topic like this in a positive way that you step out of the thread and just STFU. Same goes for other forums that you "contribute" to at Revision3.
More proof that people on the internet don't understand sarcasm.
pandahotdog
08-14-2008, 12:09 AM
I don't believe you. You can get books for kids in public schools or have them buy them. Gimme a break. I want to see pictures or proof.
My goodness. Calm Down. It's a joke. Isn't it obvious?
tokenuser
08-14-2008, 02:07 AM
More proof that people on the internet don't understand sarcasm."Its a joke"? .... "don't understand sarcasm"?
I grew up in a country where sarcasm is pretty much the norm (Americans dont get sarcasm - Australians do). You were neither joking, or being sarcastic ... but just acting in keeping with other posts you have made - being an inflamatory ass.
Offending someone (or a group of people) and then hiding behind the excuse that it was "sarcasm" or "just a joke" really tells us something about you ... that you really are a troll, and don't like being called out on it.
Megnolia
08-15-2008, 02:41 AM
What you are doing is super awesome and wish you the best of luck!
Don't have a lot of superhero type comics, but have a large stack of Calvin and Hobbes collections that could use a good home. Perfect for middle schoolers.
Also have some YA novels left over from when I was thought I was going to be a teacher. Would be willing to ship those along as well.
What you are doing is super awesome and wish you the best of luck!
Don't have a lot of superhero type comics, but have a large stack of Calvin and Hobbes collections that could use a good home. Perfect for middle schoolers.
Also have some YA novels left over from when I was thought I was going to be a teacher. Would be willing to ship those along as well.
Those sound most excellent! Just shoot me an e-mail and we can hash out the details.
valoharth
08-16-2008, 10:44 PM
Going through my collection for this makes me realize how adult some of these comics have gotten. Every time I think something would be ok, I look through it and say to myself "Oh... yea... wow, I don't think parents would care for that all that much".
jimski
08-17-2008, 05:38 AM
It is ridiculous that I lve right around you (I think my sister-in-law even teaches music at your school) but I have not stepped up to do my part here yet.
Give me a little while to get my #### together and I will have plenty for you. My office is full of stuff I'd love to unload-- er, share with the bright young minds of tomorrow.
It is ridiculous that I lve right around you (I think my sister-in-law even teaches music at your school) but I have not stepped up to do my part here yet.
Give me a little while to get my #### together and I will have plenty for you. My office is full of stuff I'd love to unload-- er, share with the bright young minds of tomorrow.
Who is your sister-in-law? That would be crazy if she did teach there.
I just wanted to update everyone:
So far, I've gotten some comics from local STL peeps, but I have gotten a HUGE amount of e-mails from people offering and shipping comics. I am completely thankful to everyone who has contacted me and I look forward to hearing from future people who are able to donate some comics.
So far, I've gotten a few of the kids I see during the day into reading some comics, but I've been busy throwing together signs to hang around the school, and I've recruited a few other teachers to help me with all of this (for I fear our librarians...they are the spawn of Satan himself). As I mentioned before, pictures are forth coming in about three weeks, when the digital camera returns with my fiance from her med school clinical. Hopefully, by then, we'll have a giant stack of comics, and numerous addicts!
I can't say enough how great the iFanbase has been about this whole thing. It's truly amazing, and even getting the few to read that I have now is a few more than what were reading yesterday.
sugarsickness
08-18-2008, 09:41 AM
Well, I know at the very least I have 6 Dilbert books that collect a lot of the newspaper strips and a Farside book somewhere that I can hunt for (Though I think that one has only half a cover). I loved them as a kid but haven't read them in years.
I also have a bit of single issues that I don't need anymore. Especially since I'm currently in the middle of looking for a new apartment (Or, well, a room, with what I make :P ) and will need to slim down my comics anyway. I'd say I probably have around 50+ single issues I could easily ship you (And maybe 5 or so trades, but I'll have to see).
On one of my days off this week I'll go through my stuff and pull out everything that I can and figure out how much I really have for you and, if you want them, I can sort out the logistics of shipping and all that.
Well, I know at the very least I have 6 Dilbert books that collect a lot of the newspaper strips and a Farside book somewhere that I can hunt for (Though I think that one has only half a cover). I loved them as a kid but haven't read them in years.
I also have a bit of single issues that I don't need anymore. Especially since I'm currently in the middle of looking for a new apartment (Or, well, a room, with what I make :P ) and will need to slim down my comics anyway. I'd say I probably have around 50+ single issues I could easily ship you (And maybe 5 or so trades, but I'll have to see).
On one of my days off this week I'll go through my stuff and pull out everything that I can and figure out how much I really have for you and, if you want them, I can sort out the logistics of shipping and all that.
Sounds awesome. Just give me a shout via e-mail when you've got the stuff ready. And thanks for thinking of me and my kiddos!
jimski
08-18-2008, 09:21 PM
Who is your sister-in-law? That would be crazy if she did teach there.
She is the delightfully named Mrs. Click. I say "I think she teaches there" not because we're estranged or something, but because I know the district treats some of its music teachers like gypsies. She spends her days driving from school to school with a trunk full of tubas because she doesn't teach at any one place.
She is the delightfully named Mrs. Click. I say "I think she teaches there" not because we're estranged or something, but because I know the district treats some of its music teachers like gypsies. She spends her days driving from school to school with a trunk full of tubas because she doesn't teach at any one place.
"Gypsies" is a good way to describe them. My car has been stripped on more than one occasion.
I'll have to ask around and see...
I just wanted to give props to Caroline for her very generous donation! She sent a box of rockin' comics all the way from Virginia. Thanks so much!
Back again to give a shout out to Kwok himself! He and I met at a local Borders, and he was generous to give me some AMAZING stuff! When I peered into the boxes, I was taken aback at Kwok's fantastic donation! Thanks to him for being, not only a really cool guy, but for being so giving as well.
Thanks Kwok!
kwok_talk
08-20-2008, 02:13 AM
Back again to give a shout out to Kwok himself! He and I met at a local Borders, and he was generous to give me some AMAZING stuff! When I peered into the boxes, I was taken aback at Kwok's fantastic donation! Thanks to him for being, not only a really cool guy, but for being so giving as well.
Thanks Kwok!
I hope those kids enjoy Countdown and Amazons Attack! muhhahahhaha
It was cool to meet the man behind this genius plan!
Ok, so this is crazy: I sent out an e-mail to the staff at the school, filling them in on this little project. I've got enough comics now that I can open up to all of the students and be able to provide comics for a large number of them. The funny thing was that teachers kept popping by to check out the collection and were making comments like, "Man, you know, maybe I'll borrow some of these..."
Comics: The great equalizer.
jjkish7
08-22-2008, 02:14 AM
Hi there...
This is my first post to iFanboy, but I've been an avid listener of the podcast for a while now. I had to get on and post a reply to the listener that's interested in starting a whole comics library in his room...and I just have to say...aaaaaaaaaaaawesome. I'm a high school science teacher and have really enjoyed passing my some of the comics series that decided not to keep in my collection to students of mine. In fact, the first school I taught at in Michigan, had a librarian that was all about keeping up with the latest trends in reading, and used school funds to purchase a ton of great trades to keep in the library. She said that she had a constant string of students coming in when they normally would not.
Unfortunately, in the last year or so, I've given a bunch away and don't have any spare ones laying around. You'll be first in my mind when I do. I would like to offer up a small piece of advice that I really saw lacking in what my old school did...I'm not sure what you teach, what grade level, or what kind of free hours you have...but all the times that I've lent/given comics to students I've always followed it up with conversation about what they liked, questions about the art, where they thought the book could go, etc...and I think that it fostered more thought than when the kids were just reading the comics. Now, I'm by NO MEANS saying that if all you do is have them read that you're not doing a good thing for them, I think it's AMAZING! I just loved the follow-up, and those are the skills that the school wants to pass on to the kids for those all-so-annoyingly-important standardized skill tests that the state throws out there. It would be awesome if your school could maybe pay you to start up a comic book club or something so you can have those kinds of conversations.
I almost had my first principal talked into doing a comic book club that I would sponsor...and we would develop a story, do the dialogue, draw it, and then sell it to the student body...but then she backed out at the last second...I was pretty bummed out. But I'll bet that if you pitch it as a reading skills group through graphic art you might get some legs out of it! I've been way too busy with a move to a new state, a new house, a new school, and developing an AP Biology class to set one up at my school...but it's still in the back of my mind to do.
Anyway, how annoying for a first post, I'm all preachy and blah blah blah...so I'll end with this observation: I hope Simone Bianchini never draws topless guys again, he drew Scott Summers with huge nipples and that made me really uncomfortable.
Hi there...
This is my first post to iFanboy, but I've been an avid listener of the podcast for a while now. I had to get on and post a reply to the listener that's interested in starting a whole comics library in his room...and I just have to say...aaaaaaaaaaaawesome. I'm a high school science teacher and have really enjoyed passing my some of the comics series that decided not to keep in my collection to students of mine. In fact, the first school I taught at in Michigan, had a librarian that was all about keeping up with the latest trends in reading, and used school funds to purchase a ton of great trades to keep in the library. She said that she had a constant string of students coming in when they normally would not.
Unfortunately, in the last year or so, I've given a bunch away and don't have any spare ones laying around. You'll be first in my mind when I do. I would like to offer up a small piece of advice that I really saw lacking in what my old school did...I'm not sure what you teach, what grade level, or what kind of free hours you have...but all the times that I've lent/given comics to students I've always followed it up with conversation about what they liked, questions about the art, where they thought the book could go, etc...and I think that it fostered more thought than when the kids were just reading the comics. Now, I'm by NO MEANS saying that if all you do is have them read that you're not doing a good thing for them, I think it's AMAZING! I just loved the follow-up, and those are the skills that the school wants to pass on to the kids for those all-so-annoyingly-important standardized skill tests that the state throws out there. It would be awesome if your school could maybe pay you to start up a comic book club or something so you can have those kinds of conversations.
I almost had my first principal talked into doing a comic book club that I would sponsor...and we would develop a story, do the dialogue, draw it, and then sell it to the student body...but then she backed out at the last second...I was pretty bummed out. But I'll bet that if you pitch it as a reading skills group through graphic art you might get some legs out of it! I've been way too busy with a move to a new state, a new house, a new school, and developing an AP Biology class to set one up at my school...but it's still in the back of my mind to do.
Anyway, how annoying for a first post, I'm all preachy and blah blah blah...so I'll end with this observation: I hope Simone Bianchini never draws topless guys again, he drew Scott Summers with huge nipples and that made me really uncomfortable.
Wow, awesome post! It's always nice to talk to a fellow brother in arms. I've been doing some of the follow up stuff with my kiddos, but it's tough with the kids that just stop in to pick up comics during passing or before the bus leaves. So far, though, it's been pretty cool. I have plans to do a "comic book club" if I can get enouch regular readers, and strangely, I had a similar conversation with my fiance last night about your creating a comic book idea. It's like we're of two minds!
In a cool way, though, the teachers have been pretty into it. I have some science classes coming in a week or two to get books because the teacher is doing a physics project that relates to superheroes, and next week, an art class is swinging by to get some examples because the teacher is doing a unit on sequential art. Not too shabby for a ragtag idea I had a couple weeks ago.
Of course, none of it is possible without the great donations I have gotten and will receive soon. Keep it up iFanbase.
Oh, and welcome to the boards jjkish!
Ok, this is getting crazy. Yesterday, when I got to work, there was a stack of comics from my boss (which means the principal) of my school. We then had a 10 minute discussion on comics. Who knew?
hawaiianpunch
09-02-2008, 11:11 PM
hi Neb,
I just emailed you from my work email. We got a ton of comics here for you. But, I need that shipping info so we can send it out to you.
Good luck and it's really great what you're doing for your school. Hope they appreciate it.
Hey all, it's been a while in the update department:
Thanks to Zech and Meg for their generous donations. Zech donated a ton of awesome trades for my students (of which 5 are currently checked out), and just this morning I got a great donation from Meg, who sent a bunch of YA novels and Calvin and Hobbes books.
I've been slowly but surely getting more student involved in the lending library. On average, I see one to two new students everday who stop by to look at my wares. Also, many of my students are beginning to show more and more of an interest in the comics that stare at them everyday.
In related news, I got a very exciting e-mail (which may be from hawaiianpunch), which I want to hold off on sharing. But let's just say it involves something that's near and dear to our hearts and minds.
A big thank you to a mysterious donor from Tennessee who donated the entire run of Countdown for the ever growing library. I know couple kids will be excited about this. Surprisingly, some of them are continuity curious.