'tis but a number...

i swiped the following
story from jill.
(this is a variation on a story originally
told by poet, taylor mali)

this was motivating for me,
a teacher, in the middle
of winter, waiting
for spring as the shorties
hit the wall two weeks before
state testing.


WHAT DO TEACHERS MAKE?

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. Be honest. What do you make?”
The teacher 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.

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time
when their parents can't make them sit for 5
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 criticize.

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.

I make them read, read, read.

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.

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."

The teacher paused one last time and then continued...

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make,
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?"