Good Question. Great Answer!

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 else 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’ and ‘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. And what do you make?”
With Love,
Russ
P.S. My Beloved is a teacher and I’m mighty proud of her!

About russtowne

I'm awed by the beauty of nature and the power of love and gratitude. Some of my favorite sensory experiences include waves crashing on rocky shores, waterways in ancient redwood and fern-filled forests, and rain. My wife and I have been married since 1979. We have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. I manage a wealth management firm that I founded in 2003. My Beloved is a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and First Graders. I'm a published author of approximately 60 books in a variety of genres for grownups and children.
This entry was posted in Humor, service, Teachers/Teaching, Uncategorized and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

12 Responses to Good Question. Great Answer!

  1. I’m proud to say that my wife (now retired) was a Teacher as well, Russ šŸ‘šŸ˜ƒ

  2. quiall says:

    Teachers are the reason we have doctors and lawyers and CEOs!

  3. Mrs. P says:

    Yes…to all of that. 😁

  4. misifusa says:

    As a former teacher I agree!!!!!

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