At dinner
guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO (proud of
being a professional), 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 or an LSA?'
He reminded the other
dinner guests what they say about teachers & LSAs: 'Those who can, do. Those
who can't, teach.'
To stress his point he
said to another guest: 'You're a teacher, Mary. Be honest. What do you
do?'
Mary, who had a
reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I do?
(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.
- I make kids sit
through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit
for 5 without an I Pod, 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 maths. They use their God given brain, not the man-made
calculator.
- 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, and sing the National Anthem.
- 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.'
(Mary 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! |