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, Bonnie. Be =
honest. What do you make?"
Bonnie, who =
had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to =
know what I make? (She paused for a second, and 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 winner. =
I make kids =
sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them =
sit for 5 without an iPad, phone or movie video.
=
You want to =
know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each person at =
the table.)
=
I make kids =
wonder.
I make them =
question.
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. Keyboarding isn’t =
everything.
=
I make them =
read, read, read.
=
I make them =
show all their work in math. They use their God-given brain, not the =
man-made calculator.
=
I make my =
students from other countries learn everything they need to know about =
English while preserving their unique cultural =
identity.
=
I make my =
classroom a place where all my students feel =
safe.
=
I make my =
students stand, placing their right hand over their heart to say the =
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live =
in the United States of America.
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. =
(Bonnie paused =
one last time and then continued.)
"Then, =
when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t =
everything, 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, Mr. CEO?"
His jaw =
dropped; he went silent.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] =
www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I =
Love!"