Wednesday, September 22, 2010

What do teachers make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO of a large corporation, decided to explain what he thought was the real problem with education. He asked the group, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" Thus, he implied, teachers who make little money aren't as useful and/or worthwhile as business people who make more by working in the market place.
To stress his point he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness, replied, "You want to know what I make?" She paused for a second, then began . . .
"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
"I make a kid receiving a C-plus feel like he-or-she won the Congressional Medal of Honor."
"I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for five without an IPod, Game-Cube or movie rental."
"You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)
"I make kids wonder."
"I make them question."
"I make them apologize and mean it."
"I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions."
"I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything."
"I make them read, read, read."
"I make them show all their work in math, make them use their God-given brains,not a man-made calculator."
"I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity."
"I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make them stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America."
"Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life!"
Bonnie paused one last time and then continued."Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because those people are ignorant. You want to know what I make?"
"I MAKE A DIFFERENCE! What do you make Mr. CEO?"
His jaw dropped, and he went silent.

1 comment:

Lenny said...

What teacher's make is originally from Taylor Mali and has then taken a story on it's own - how his poem became anonymous can be found here:
http://www.taylormali.com/index.cfm?webid=51

Himself performing that piece:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

Just thought you might to know that :)


-Lenny