What do Teachers Make?

[ikedilligas]

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 winner.

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 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?"

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

[texiban001]

Some teachers actually do care about the kids they teach. I have found that most are hamstrung by the requirement that they teach that idiotic TAKS test. What ever happened to end of course tests? The degradation of the American and Texas educational systems can be placed on the doorstop of ONE man.....JIMMY CARTER! This is the idiot that created the US Department of Education and made it a cabinet level post. The Dept of Education is the dumbest thing the federal government ever came up with.

It is not the feds job to be involved in education except where segregation and discrimination exist and needs to be eliminated. It is the State and Local governments job to educate our children. Look at what federal interference has done. It has made our kids the dumbest in the world. Parents are also to blame because they will not get involved in their kids education.

I make sure my nephew does his homework EVERY night and he gets punished if he misbehaves in school or does not do his work. When he came to live with my wife and myself, he had just flunked 1st grade. To make matters worse, his mom, aunt and grandma was doing his homework for him! He has not flunked since because we make him do the work himself and he knows that he will get his butt kicked if he doesn't !