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A Tribute To Teachers
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 that it's
true what they say about teachers: "Those who can: do.
Those who can't: teach."
To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a
teacher, Susan," he said. "Be honest. What do you make?"
Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness,
replied, "You want to know what I make?"
"I make kids work harder
than they ever thought they could. I can make a C+ feel
like the Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel
like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or
her very best."
"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in
absolute silence."
"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home."
"You want to know what I make?"
"I make kids wonder."
"I make them question."
"I make them criticize."
"I make them apologize, and mean it."
"I make them write."
"I make them read, read, read."
"I make them spell "definitely and beautiful," over, and
over, again, until they will never misspell either one
of those words again."
"I make them show all their work in math and hide it all
on their final drafts in English."
"I elevate them to experience music and art and joy in
the performance, so their lives are rich, full of
kindness and culture, and they take pride in themselves
and their accomplishments."
"I make them understand that if you have the brains,
then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to
judge you by what you make, you pay them no attention."
"You want to know what I make?
I make a difference.
What do you make?"
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