Punk Rock Work Ethic by Danny Papa

Growing up, I spent summers and even weekends working for my dad as a painting contractor. We did it all: large exterior and interior of homes, condos in NYC, stores, schools, and restaurants. As a young kid, this left a lasting impression on me as I learned a skill and discovered the value of hard work.

At age 19, I started a punk band with a few friends and by age 21 we began touring and playing shows all over the country. Like painting, playing in a rock band is hard work, especially when your band is just starting out and you are paying your dues. In the summer of 2000, my band spent seven straight weeks on the road. Touring consisted of driving long hours without AC, unloading the trailer into the venues, loading equipment onto the stage, breaking everything down, and loading the trailer again. Following the show, we would either drive through the night to the next location or crash on someone’s floor. Just like the movie Groundhog Day, we would repeat the process the very next day making it seem never ending at times. But, spending four years in a punk rock band instilled in me a work ethic that has directly influenced the conviction by which I approach my career as an educator. 

Relentless Commitment   

Hard work requires commitment, and commitment requires time. After my band broke up, I toured with Further Seems Forever from October 2002 to August 2003. In ten months we circled the United States three and a half times. Prior to that, FSF spent a year and a half on the road, touring nonstop. Like many bands, they were committed to their fanbase, their art, and their careers. Playing more than 250 shows in a year was common for bands in that generation. A commitment of that level requires time away from friends and family. It costs a musician a lot! Tour presents many challenges: flat tires, replacing a transmission, stolen equipment, stress on relationships, and the feeling of being homesick. I witnessed a relentless commitment to the cause that thrives in the face of conflict and challenges.

The same could be said for educators. The intensity of the current demands facing education require a relentless commitment to perseverance and hard work. Educators are some of the hardest working people I have ever met. Their commitment to their students defines the integrity by which they approach their careers. For many educators, the work day doesn’t end at 3:30;  many are coaches, tutors, after-school advisors, and many grade students work, plan, and prepare lessons well into the evening and over the course of weekends. Similar to musicians,  educators maintain a punk rock work ethic which is directly linked to their relentless commitment to doing what is best for their students.

Attention to Detail

I had the unique privilege of recording two albums at the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado, home studio of Bill Stevenson and Stephen Egerton of the Descendents/ALL. On a personal level, Descendents/ALL are my favorite punk rock band of all time. Recording two albums with Bill and Stephen in their studio was a dream come true. As producers and studio engineers, they were meticulous about every aspect of recording songs. Everything from microphone placement to compression levels to acoustics, and, most importantly, instrument and vocal performances had to be perfect. Each snare hit, guitar strum, bass line, and vocal note mattered, and woven together it created an album. I learned from Bill and Stephen the critical importance of paying close attention to detail. An album lives forever; therefore, the performances, the tones, the levels, must be precise. A punk rock work ethic must include an unwavering attention to detail, a focus on the fundamentals, and responsibility to produce the best possible manifestation of hard work.

As an educator I learned the importance of a focused attention to detail in the lessons I designed, the assignments I crafted, as well as the aesthetics within a presentation. More importantly, I had to pay attention to detail in the relationships I fostered and developed with my students, colleagues, and families. Just as music lasts forever, so do the influences and impressions we make everyday inside of a school building. Being intentional about recognizing the achievements, promoting great accomplishments, and empowering staff and students is a manifestation of paying attention to every detail.

Get Your Hands Dirty

When I think of the phrase, it is a “whatever it takes to get the job done” mentality. Nothing is beneath a touring musician; they have seen and done it all to get the job done. From changing a flat tire on the side of a highway in Canada, to hauling large boxes of T-shirts in the hot Florida summer sun, to fixing equipment on the fly, to twelve hour drives from one show to another. Spending years in the music industry, I witnessed countless bands who spent years touring the country on five dollars a day, sleeping on strangers' floors, eating fast food, driving from state to state to play as many shows as they possibly could. The bands who have cultivated a devoted fan base and are making a career of their love for music, are the ones who spent time getting their hands dirty on the road and in the studio with a “whatever it takes” mentially.

With a similar conviction, educators who possess a “whatever it takes” philosophy to make a difference in the life and educational experience of students are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Going the extra mile for a student by spending more time to explain a concept, actively reading through a document, coming in early, staying late, facilitating tutoring sessions is what I see from the dedicated staff I am honored to work alongside. As we continue our recovery from the pandemic, we cannot be afraid to roll up our sleeves, get our hands dirty, and do whatever it takes to support, assist, inspire, and empower our students to overcome the social, emotional, and academic challenges they are currently facing.

The punk rock work ethic of a relentless commitment to pursuing a dream, paying close attention to every detail, and doing whatever it takes to get the job done also demonstrates the integrity of educators across the country. In closing, I want to thank every educator for their perseverance, dedication, and deeply held convictions to always do what is best for our students!