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What Teachers Make

Adapted from a poem by Taylor Mali*

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” 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 C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 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 criticize. 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. I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math.

“I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, 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, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant.

“You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?”

THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER YOU KNOW.
(And everyone on your mailing list, for that matter).

THERE IS MUCH TRUTH IN THIS STATEMENT: “Teachers make every other profession.”

*In the true spirit of how internet messages can take on a life of their own, it turns out that the above essay is an edited version of an original poem by Taylor Mali. To see the full and unedited version, click here. You can also watch him perform the original poem. Thank you to all those who wrote with the name of this author so I could give him credit.

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