"What do teachers make?"

[mzteris]

"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?”

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 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 Medal of Honor winner.

“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. They use their God-given brain, not the 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 my students 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 they are ignorant. You want to know what I make? I make a difference. What do you make, Mr. CEO?”

http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/column/dave_zweifel/article_07070a00-1fcb-51d7-9985-749197f9faf8.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. My best teachers and professors made me challenge myself.

And never let me think I could not do "the impossible".

Bless them all. They made me.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. That's great!! (Except for making the kids say the pledge and under God bit.)

[mzteris]

4. it's an old story...

I don't like "that part" either, but the overall sentiment is good.

I hope that doesn't inhibit people from liking the rest.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Well, for my own part I found the rest to be terrific. *big thumbs up from a

kid from a family of educators*

[Mist]

3. Bookmarking. Wonderful talking points next time I hear someone dis teachers. nt

[Berry Cool]

5. I prefer this version of the story:

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?”

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 frankness, replied, “You want to know what I make?” She paused for a second, then began:

“Well, I make your kids work harder than YOU ever make them work at home.

“I make your C+ daughter feel like the Medal of Honor winner.

“I make your son sit through 40 minutes of class time when you can’t make him 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 YOUR kids wonder.

“I make YOUR kids question.

“I make YOUR kids apologize and mean it.

“I make YOUR kids have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

“I teach YOUR kids to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t everything.

“I make YOUR kids read, read, read.

“I make YOUR kids show all their work in math. They use their brain, not the man-made calculator.

“I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity, so if YOUR kids insult them for looking or speaking differently, they can hold their heads high and shake it off.

“I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe--even if YOUR kids are trying to bully the others.

“Finally, I make YOUR kids understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life, even if they're not a success in YOUR eyes and you keep chiding them for being losers because they haven't chosen some high-powered, high-paying career like yours.” 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 they are ignorant. You want to know what I make? I make YOUR little brats into decent people and citizens, and help YOUR more decent kids learn to stand up in the world against assholes like you. Which is a hell of a lot more than YOU make of them, Mr. CEO!"

(adapted by someone who was always kind of amused by the part of the movie It's a Wonderful Life where Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey goes berserk at Zuzu's teacher for letting her go home with her coat open and catch a cold, and then later gets socked in the jaw by the teacher's husband, who lectures him for lashing out at a poor teacher who's only trying to give his brats a decent education)

[noamnety]

7. This is actually a poem by taylor mali, a slam poet

It's worth watching him perform it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

[AnneD]

8. As a School Nurse I have to say.......

I am in awe of teachers. They go into the profession with the knowledge that there will be no excessive financial gain. The hours are long and the pay is little. They are able to channel youthful energy into learning.

I have had some teacher tell me they could never be a Nurse but frankly I would be hard pressed to do their job every day(and I do health teaching on occasion).

Happy Teachers Appreciation Week-from someone that stands up for teachers every chance she get.