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WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

A poem by: Taylor Mali

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 that it's true
what they say about teachers: "Those who can...do.
Those who can't ... teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a
teacher, Susan," he said. "Be honest. What do you
make?"

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness,
replied, "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 if the
student did not do his or her very best."

"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence."

"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home"

"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."

"I make them read, read, read."

"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful, and 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
all on their final drafts in English."

"I make them understand that if you have the brains,
then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to
judge you by what you make, you pay them no
attention!"

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make a difference."

"And you? What do you make?"
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quote:
Originally posted by softball1:
WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

A poem by: Taylor Mali

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 that it's true
what they say about teachers: "Those who can...do.
Those who can't ... teach."

To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a
teacher, Susan," he said. "Be honest. What do you
make?"

Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness,
replied, "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 if the
student did not do his or her very best."

"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall
in absolute silence."

"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home"

"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."

"I make them read, read, read."

"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely
beautiful, and 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
all on their final drafts in English."

"I make them understand that if you have the brains,
then follow your heart...and if someone ever tries to
judge you by what you make, you pay them no
attention!"

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make a difference."

"And you? What do you make?"



Where is the "like" button?
quote:
Originally posted by Families First:
Teachers are the most overpaid underworked job in our society. And they have NO accountability.


You know little or nothing about what teachers do or you would not have posted your silly and unsubstantiated critique.

Check out mail carriers, FF.

Now THAT is a bunch of folks doing simple, virtually menial, and repetitive work and pulling down pretty big bucks for it.
Teachers (be they good or bad) are professionals who've completed at least an undergraduate degree. They are required to take classes and go to in service meetings to continue their own education. IMO, they should be paid more than desk jockeys. When a flunky who gets a cushy desk job (say for the government) and an assload of benefits to cover their lip injections and boob jobs makes as much as someone who has worked hard for a degree, it's a crying shame.
I don't think teachers, social workers, police officers, nurses receive pay that equals the amount of education they have. It's a shame society does not place more emphasis on such professions.
quote:
I don't think teachers, social workers, police officers, nurses receive pay that equals the amount of education they have.



you are wrong. a teacher with a FOUR YEAR degree starts out at 50k (including benefits). that is dang good money for a 4 year degree.

then on top of that, they have a guaranteed job for life and job security that most of us can only dream of.
quote:
Originally posted by Captain Obvious:
Teachers (be they good or bad) are professionals who've completed at least an undergraduate degree. They are required to take classes and go to in service meetings to continue their own education. IMO, they should be paid more than desk jockeys. When a flunky who gets a cushy desk job (say for the government) and an assload of benefits to cover their lip injections and boob jobs makes as much as someone who has worked hard for a degree, it's a crying shame.
I don't think teachers, social workers, police officers, nurses receive pay that equals the amount of education they have. It's a shame society does not place more emphasis on such professions.


Police officers are lucky to have a GED, they are no where near being considered professionals.
quote:
Originally posted by Opie Cunningham:
quote:
Originally posted by mamyliga:
Opie,..You are the poster child for, "What is wrong with Our Education Curriculum?"


I was educated decades ago, back in what many refer to as the "Good old days", before calculators and the end of corporal punishment. You must not agree with that characterization.


How long did the coal have to cool before you could write on the cave walls with it?
quote:
Originally posted by mamyliga:
Unob, I respectfully disagree with your statement about starting salary....I retired after 30 years and two MA's without going much above 50K.

mamygila
Did the $50K include your benefits package? Because according to government statistics reported this morning on one site I read says something different. Why is there so much discrepancy among the figures?
quote:
Did the $50K include your benefits package? Because according to government statistics reported this morning on one site I read says something different. Why is there so much discrepancy among the figures?



tyates, these people graduated from college and went straight into this alice-in-wonderland career where they can never be fired and never have a concern for healthcare costs. they have no clue what people in the real work have to spend to get the things they take for granted.

this person has no idea that they actually retired making better than 70k.
I believe good teachers should be respected just like I believe good doctors, lawyers, cops, firefighters, mechanics, welders, clergy or anyone else who does their job well. This is what we pay them for.
I also believe the man who carries my trash away and stoops down to catch any stray paper should be respected.
Now if teachers were non-paid, that might be another story.
No more, no less.
What is this "put me on a pedestalm I'm a teacher" culture all about?
quote:
Originally posted by OkieDokie:
I believe good teachers should be respected just like I believe good doctors, lawyers, cops, firefighters, mechanics, welders, clergy or anyone else who does their job well. This is what we pay them for.
I also believe the man who carries my trash away and stoops down to catch any stray paper should be respected.
Now if teachers were non-paid, that might be another story.
No more, no less.
What is this "put me on a pedestalm I'm a teacher" culture all about?


Good question. My position is that respect is earned and can't be demanded. Teachers make it a practice to demand respect, and when society deems them unworthy they get kind of whiney about it.
quote:
Originally posted by Opie Cunningham:
quote:
Originally posted by OkieDokie:
I believe good teachers should be respected just like I believe good doctors, lawyers, cops, firefighters, mechanics, welders, clergy or anyone else who does their job well. This is what we pay them for.
I also believe the man who carries my trash away and stoops down to catch any stray paper should be respected.
Now if teachers were non-paid, that might be another story.
No more, no less.
What is this "put me on a pedestalm I'm a teacher" culture all about?


Good question. My position is that respect is earned and can't be demanded. Teachers make it a practice to demand respect, and when society deems them unworthy they get kind of whiney about it.


I really like the statement:

Respect is earned.

Kids so get it- as do we.
quote:
Originally posted by OkieDokie:
quote:
Originally posted by Opie Cunningham:
quote:
Originally posted by OkieDokie:
I believe good teachers should be respected just like I believe good doctors, lawyers, cops, firefighters, mechanics, welders, clergy or anyone else who does their job well. This is what we pay them for.
I also believe the man who carries my trash away and stoops down to catch any stray paper should be respected.
Now if teachers were non-paid, that might be another story.
No more, no less.
What is this "put me on a pedestalm I'm a teacher" culture all about?


Good question. My position is that respect is earned and can't be demanded. Teachers make it a practice to demand respect, and when society deems them unworthy they get kind of whiney about it.


I really like the statement:

Respect is earned.

Kids so get it- as do we.



It's one of those "Truths" that can change the way you look at the world.

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