Worth Repeating

My friend John sent me this.  It has been around but it is worth reading periodically.  Have a happy week.

Who is a teacher?

From a school principal’s speech at graduation 

He said,  “A doctor wants his child to become a doctor.

“An engineer wants his child to become engineer.

“A businessman wants his child to become a CEO.

“A teacher often wants his child to become a doctor, an engineer, a CEO.  Almost nobody wants to become a teacher by choice!”

It’s very sad but that’s sometimes the truth. 

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 a 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, then began.

“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

“I make a C+ student 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 minutes 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 a 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 my students 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 my 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 CEOs ,AND DOCTORS, AND ENGINEERS.

“What do YOU make Mr. CEO?”

His jaw dropped; he went silent.

Remember your teachers!  Don’t forget personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sister, coaches, and spiritual leaders/teachers.