Why We Are Teachers

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with modern
education. He argued: "What's a kid going to learn from someone
who decided his or her 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 do: teach."
To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Mary,"
he said. "Be honest. What do you make?"
Mary, who had a reputation of honesty, frankness, and wit replied,
"You want to know what I make?...Well, I'll tell you:"
"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 &receive' over and over
again, until they will never misspell 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 the joy in performance,
so their lives are rich, full of kindness and culture, and they takepride
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?"