He said the problem with teachers is, "What's a
kid going to learn from someone who decided his
best option in life was to become a teacher?" He
reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what
they say about teachers:
Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.....
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist
the temptation to remind the other dinner guests
that it's also true what they say about lawyers.
Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite
company.
"I mean, you're a teacher, Rachel," he says. "Be
honest. What do you make?" .....
I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest)
, because, you see, I have a policy about honesty
and ass-kicking: if you ask for it, I have to let you
have it.
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 a Congressional medal of
honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. How
dare you waste my time with anything less than
your very best.
I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in
absolute silence.
No, you may not work in groups.
No, you may not ask a question.
Why won't I let you get a drink of water?
Because you're not thirsty, you're bored, that's
why.
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home.
I make parents see their children for who they are
and what they can be.
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, write, write.
And then I make them read.
I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful, definitely beautiful over and 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 on their final drafts in English.
I make them understand that if you got this
(brains) then you follow this (heart) and if someone
ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give
them this (the finger).
Let me break it down for you, so you know what I
say is true:
I make a damn difference! What about you?

you can say that again.

proud to be a Teacher