TN Educators Vs. Mass Media

The following news release features Jackson's Own Earl Wiman

August 31, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cheryl Umberger, TEA Communications, cumberger@tea.nea.org,
615.242.8392, Ext. 112 (O), 615.319.1018 (C)
Tennessee’s Teachers Appalled by Food Chain Television Advertisement
NASHVILLE—“How irresponsible can you get? At this very moment, there are female teachers in high school classrooms with 30+ students who are working hard to teach our children so that they can compete in today’s world. It is unbelievably demeaning to every one of them to promote a television advertisement showing a young teacher gyrating on top of her desk while boys in the class rap about her body in order to sell hamburgers!” Tennessee Education Association President Dr. Earl Wiman’s strong reaction came following the airing of the Hardee’s ‘flat bun’ hamburger commercial during last night’s Titans football game. “At a time when teachers, parents and the business community demand even more rigorous and relevant coursework for K-12 students, no one should condone such a sexually exploitive assault on our teachers, our students, or our schools,” he continued. “All morning I have received calls and e-mails from teachers, their families, and other school officials. They are outraged, and so am I.“I am asking that all of our members and the public who care about children and their education to contact their local Hardee’s to voice their concerns. The TEA Web site, http://www.teateachers.org/, will also carry contact information for those who want to write or call corporate officials. (Hardee’s is one of the CKE Restaurants chain, along with Carl’s Jr. and Green Burrito fast food restaurants.)Wiman concluded, “Tennessee’s teachers work hard every day to educate the children of this state. Working with parents, we strive to teach and reinforce good behavior so that all students have the chance to learn in a safe and orderly environment, and we strongly resent those who flaunt their disregard for both teachers and the children we teach.”