If you ask most people who their heroes are, you might hear them say that a parent is a person who has most influenced their lives. However, if you ask people to name more than one person who influenced their lives, they’re likely to name a teacher, whether a childhood education teacher, a high school teacher, or a college professor. Educators are famously underpaid for the work they do, and most people respect that. But there is always one idiot in every crowd who has no respect for teachers. One popular phrase I’ve heard a lot is, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” The implication is that if the teacher is so dang smart at what they’re teaching, they should be more successful than they are and out doing the work. Not sitting in a classroom teaching other people how to be winners. This kind of attitude makes me furious. I don’t even know where I’d be without the excellent teachers who have blessed my life, and you probably feel the same way. In the story below, a man makes the mistake of belittling a teacher. Watch what happens.
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 emphasize 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, 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.”
“I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for five minutes without an iPod, Game Cube, or movie rental.” She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table, and continued, “You want to know what I make?”
“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 in 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 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.”
“I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.”
Pausing one last time, Bonnie 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, and he was silent.
Teachers all over the world are heroes. They should never be treated this way. We’re just happy that this amazing educator silenced this idiotic man, and hopefully, he learned not to mess with teachers.
