You want to know what I make?
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 corroborate, he said to another guest, “You’re a teacher, Susan. 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 make a C+ feel like the winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. Don’t waste my time with anything less than your very best."
“I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence. No, you may not work in groups. No, you may not ask a question. Why won’t I let you get a drink of water? Because you’re not thirsty, you’re bored, that’s why."
“I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: I hope I haven’t called at a bad time, I just wanted to talk to you about something Billy said today. Billy said, ‘Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you?’ And it was the noblest act of courage I have ever seen. I make parents see their children for who they are and what they can be."
“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’ and ‘beautiful’ over and over until they will never misspell either of those words again. I make them show all their work in math, and hide it on their final drafts in English."
“I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, pay no attention because they just didn’t learn.”
Susan paused and then continued, “You want to know what I make? I make a difference! What do you make?”
I ran this story in my monthly newsletter "The Grangetto Group Home News" a few of years ago. I like to think I make a difference too.
Respectfully,
Frank Grangetto
"Your Real Estate Consultant...For life"
(760) 525-4228
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