Sunday, December 30, 2012

Who is a Teacher?

Received this email from the school's management. At a graduation ceremony, a school Principal shared this story:

He said, "Doctor wants his child to become a doctor... Engineer wants his child to become an engineer... Businessman wants his child to become a CEO... BUT a teacher also wants his child to become one of them? Nobody wants to become a teacher by choice.... Very sad but that's the truth!

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?" To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Teacher Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness 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 winner. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 min. without an I Pod, 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 apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them how 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.

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 IN ALL YOUR LIVES,EDUCATING KIDS AND PREPARING THEM TO BECOME CEO's, AND DOCTORS AND ENGINEERS..........

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped; he went silent.

3 comments:

Sedona Cole said...

What a brilliant story and message! Thank you for sharing such words of wisdom! What a profound response to an all too common question. I would have loved to have a teacher, such as this. I realized some time ago, that I had really not been working anywhere near my potential, when I came across the following quote: 'The definition you’ve placed on yourself – or have allowed others to place on you – is precisely why you have what you have, do what you do, are what you are and act how you act.' Teachers are our most prized and trusted leaders (in my humble opinion), yet few reach the true heights of the one in this article. The quote I mention is from 'FTRnation.com' and where I found my mentor, who supported me in drilling through false beliefs, encouraging me to live an authentic life with ‘new self-definitions’ I set for myself. Thanks again for such an inspired message!! Keep up the great sharing!

professor said...

Thank you for your encouragement. Teachers, through the process of sowing seeds in the fields of young minds, can weild enormous influence in shaping the thoughts and characters of future generations (Muir, 2001).

Pamela Tan said...

Excellent! I love this post! I'm going to share this on my facebook! :)