People say the funniest things. My partner’s niece has decided to study to be a teacher. She had thought about having a “gap year” because she wasn’t sure what to do and while I encouraged her to think about creating a business for herself centred on the amazing skill she has for drawing animals and creating stunning equine images, when the second round of university offers came out she opted to study teaching at Sydney’s oldest university.
One of her uncles said “Oh what a shame” and her grandmother said “what a waste”
I’m stunned at both of these comments.
How did our society reach this point? Teachers are amazing people and have enormous responsibility for inspiring learning.
The same week I read this Fabulous anecdote:
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 stress his point he said to another guest; “You’re a teacher, Susan. Be honest. What do you really do?”
Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I do”?
“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. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence.”
“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 show all their work in math and perfect their final drafts in English. I make them understand that if you have the brains, and follow your heart, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you must pay no attention because they just didn’t learn.”
Susan paused and then continued. “You want to know what I do? ‘I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.’”
