Posted 11:59 AM by Bonnie

Teachers: I find it sad that the most important job is among the lowest paid. I am speaking of teachers. Those folks who take our children and mold them into thinking, functioning, caring human beings who are able to go out into the world and hopefully make a difference themselves. The following has reached my email many times, so this time I am dedicating it to the two teachers in my family - my husband, Keith and my sister, Victoria and all the teachers who made a difference in my life...especially Mrs. Hoffstetter who loved my poetry and encouraged me to write and inspired me more than any other teacher ever did. To Mr. Polenta, my music teacher, at Gridley, who in spite of my poor playing ability let me in the band and encouraged me to keep practicing. To Mr. Quirk who also encouraged me to write and explore my abilities in that area. There are more, but these are the ones who after all these years remain with me. So, to all of you....

How Much Do You 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 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 the 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" 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 elevate them to experience music and art and joy in
the performance, so their lives are rich, full of
kindness and culture, and they take pride in
themselves and their accomplishments."

"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.
What do you make?"