What Teachers Make, or
Objection Overruled, or
If things don't work out, you can always go to law school

By Taylor Mali
www.taylormali.com

He says 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, Taylor," he says.
"Be honest. What do you make?"

And 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 hope I haven't called at a bad time,
I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today.
Billy said, "Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don't you?"
And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen.

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 goddamn difference! What about you?

(Thanks, SammiJ)

I love teachers. But I a frisky today and this is the first thing that popped up in my mind.

Well, not THIS, but the thing that popped up in my mind was too...x-rated.

But, once again; hiphip hurray for Chocolate1!

If there's such a thing as my favourite teacher, it would be definitely chocolate1

zaza said:

Mine too

Thank you, guys!

This is my 22nd school year, and I'd never want to do anything else. I used to "play school" with my dolls.

People say a lot a things about teachers- they yell at us in meetings, they say we can't do anything else, the Governor of NJ has started a witch-hunt against us...

Thank so much for this thread! What a nice way to wake up!

I totally appreciate the job teachers do!

chocolate1

chocolate1 said:

We found out our 15-year-old has been engaging in some activity that we definitely do not approve of. We intervened and made him tell us the names and addresses of all the kids involved.

We spent the weekend contacting the parents and sitting down with them. Some of them were really awesome and on board with us wanting to hold the kids accountable, and some made our jaws drop at how little they seemed to care, and how fucking useless they were.

We were expressing our frustration at the latter group of parents, and Chris said, "This must be how teachers feel!"

PunkMistress said:

It can be difficult some times, but I love my job.

Thank you again for thinking of me!

chocolate1 said:

Cuz you are testing Freshmen...

Heehee.

chocolate1 said:

The newly-elected mayor of my town, Freeport NY, is following in your governor's lead.

It took us ALL as a surprise when the town's first black mayor turned around and decided to give the community a big F-U by urging his constituents to vote AGAINST the school budget. Even though it's a high-needs, low income community and even though the school administration agreed to waive raises and teachers have already been laid off to keep the tax increased at less than 2% (1.88% to be exact), he's been telling people at his town hall meetings that the administration is making too much money and he's even endorsed 2 hand-picked candidates for school board (that have no experience nor involvement in the community). He's even used the emergency-call system to push his agenda! This so that he can gain favor with the disgruntled homeowners who send their kids to private school and hate paying school taxes!!!

I was just a group worker for an after school program and that was hard. So I know its hard to be a teacher. And a lot of times teachers are not appreciated for teaching academics and babysitting (at times ). You guys def don't make enough money for what you do. btw

Cheers for what you do for our kids!

chocolate1, my wife, my mom, lots of my friends...

PurpleJedi said:

I appreciate all the nice comments that you guys have posted.

Sometimes it's a thankless job, but I love it anyway!

Teachers are awesome. I have a lot of respect for them.

.
[Edited 5/18/10 18:24pm]

Mom's a teacher. Step-dad's a teacher. Oh the horror stories I have heard

I know here in Virginia the school system budget is being re-distributed. They are taking the budget from the southern Virginia school systems, which tend to be poorer, and giving it to the northern Virginia school systems, which tend to be richer. Lay offs are on the way..

Shawnt27 said:

What the FUCK.



I'm so sick of hearing this shit.

PunkMistress said:

It's open season on public education.

well, since nobody else is gonna post it....

chocolate1 said:

But WHY??? I just don't understand why we're sabatoging the nation like that. I grew up in the 70's when public schooling was academically rich. It was my prep in public school that got me into an elite college prpeparatory and then later, a good uni. Without an educated national population, how are we ever going to maintain our place on the world stage as a global leader on this planet? We can't read, we can't write, we can't speak other languages, we know nothing of science, philosophy, and history, and to put the icing on the cake we don't pay our educators? Collectively we may feel the impulse to make fun of other countries because they keep everyone in school until they're 92, but it allows their citizens to have job options, and to ensure that their countries are globally competitive.


This sucks. I love teachers

Here, Chocolate.

I stopped trusting my teachers in 9th grade due to one treating me like crap and others not helping me when I needed it but I was lucky to have great teachers in my 11th and 12th grade years who were supportive and encouraged their students

Ottensen said:

bboy87 said:

You can't blame all teachers for one fool.
I have coworkers that I wish would just leave because I see how they treat the kids.
There is good and bad in every profession...

I'm glad you were able to have some good experiences, tho.

Much love and appreciation for teachers especially Chocolate1!

Teachers

Chocolate1

PunkMistress said:

OUR BUDGET PASSED!!!



Elections were yesterday.

The mayor's cronies lost their bids for school board, and residents approved the budget! Now my kids don't lose their after-school activities, and more importantly, my wife has a job for another year!

PurpleJedi said:

MrsMdiver said:

johnart said: