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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Any Teachers?
        
(Message started by: Ghost on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 12:37pm)

Title: Any Teachers?
Post by Ghost on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 12:37pm

> 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?"

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by nani on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 12:47pm

:)

(somebody spell-checked for you, huh?) ;) :-*

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by Ghost on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 12:58pm

on 03/03/06 at 12:47:19, nani wrote:

:)

(somebody spell-checked for you, huh?) ;) :-*

:P ;;D ;)

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 1:13pm

Thats good tho.

Ever noticed the number of people here that make a difference?

There's a bunch of them!!

Lance

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by pfunk on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 3:03pm

Ghost, that is really cool. I'm not teaching right now but have recently gone back to college to finish out my Phys. Ed degree and re-up my certificate. It's great to know that someone understands why we do it. It definitely isn't about the $$$ because I'd really choose something else if that was the case. It's about dong what you love and being happy doing it. It's about making a difference in a child's life, even if you only reach one, but have reached that one deeply. The reason I've decided to go into Phys Ed as well as Special Ed is because both help those in need in far different ways. I'm doing some teaching now in one of the local elementary schools and the best part of my day is when I walk and see the smiles on the face of almost every child in the room or gym because they are happy and enthusiastic about my being there. It is really nice to know that while, yes, we are underpaid, we are appreciated by some. Much luv and PFDANs to you ,bro.

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by ExplodingEyeBall on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 3:09pm

I'm going to have to show this one to my wife. She teaches 3rd grade.

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by TomM on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 3:10pm

Yup. I can relate. I taught H.S. for 4 years. Left teaching....not b/c of the kids. I could not agree w/ the administration. Surprised?
To this day, some of my former students e-mail me. We sometimes meet for drinks and some dinner. How cool is that?
I know I made a difference in a few.
TomM 8)

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by Jimi on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 3:22pm

Good one Ghost. It takes a special type person to be a good teacher. It definitely is not about the money.

modified to add............did I spell that right?

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by medic1852 on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 3:37pm

OUTSTANDING! ;;D

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by doodles on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 8:56pm

Wow! How often we all think of that one teacher that made a big difference in our lives! I taught SCUBA for 10 years... not for the bucks for sure! I could relive the first breathe I ever took under water each time I taught a new student.. I could show them the most common little crab and see shear delight in their eyes.. no I think most teachers teach because of the long lasting impact we have on our students! ;)

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by Lizzie2 on Mar 3^rd, 2006, 9:57pm

Very very cool!!!

When I started at Penn State, I was getting a degree in music education. Because of the difference that ONE teacher made in my life. I don't know if I would have ever made it this far if it hadn't been for how amazing that teacher was.

Then I taught piano for awhile. Loved it and plan to teach again. In fact, when I decide to have kids, I will probably stay at home and teach piano. Great work for a stay at home mom...especially since I ought to use that degree in music. ;)

In lieu of what nursing is like and what my health is like, I've actually been considering getting my certification in nursing education so I can teach future nurses of America. I think teaching is born into you - no matter how far you go from it, if it's in you, you'll always go back. I love to teach - other nurses, doctors, patients, my family and friends....you name it.

But it's only because of the teachers that I had that made a HUGE difference. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to make a difference in the lives of children. :)

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by AussieBrian on Mar 4^th, 2006, 12:52am

I know of a teacher who, at his retirement party, was given a T-shirt and on the front was written "I taught 1,260 children to read".

On the back it said "Run, Spot. Run."

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by sandie99 on Mar 4^th, 2006, 2:05am

Great post! :)

There are many teachers in my family. A great teacher can make a huge difference. I've had always great teachers in history, Finnish and in English. My teachers in Finnish always encouraged me to write. Their faith in me keeps me writing... :)

One of my funniest teachers was psychology/religion teacher back in high school. He used to highlight his teachings by showing episodes of The Simpsons and South Park! For some reason people were always awake at his classes, participated and learned a lot.

Sanna

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by BarbaraD on Mar 4^th, 2006, 11:00am

Teachers DO make a difference (some do). One I'll never forget and I have a picture of her in my office. She taught me two years of Latin and Senior English. I kept in contact with her until she died at 99 years old. Everything I wrote, I double checked because I was afraid she would grade it. I once told her I "wrote southern" to which she replied (without a blink), "learn to puncutatue slower!" She was some character, but she made a LOT of difference in a LOT of lives.

Never underestimate a teacher.. and their influence on a child - it may just take a few years to sink in....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by medic1852 on Mar 4^th, 2006, 11:05am

I e-mailed this to both my hogs teachers and their principal..Teachers don't get the recognition they deserve.

Title: Re: Any Teachers?
Post by Cerberus on Mar 4^th, 2006, 11:19am

The faculty at the place I work have an award called the Class Act Award. I cater a breakfast every quarter for the people who recieve this.

What is symbolizes simply is a teacher or small group of teachers recieve this award for making a difference to a student. In short, the ADMIN gives this award to teachers who by vote of the faculty feel imprint a positive impression upon the lives of the kids they serve.
When I started working there I saw this and gave it some thought. And even though I am not a faculty member nor a school employee (I work for a company contracted by the district to perform a service) I submitted my vote for the entire faculty to recieve it because of the following reasons:

1. In spite of the Unions MOST teachers feel personally committed to improving the lives of the kids through education. This has nothing to do with their contracts etc. it is a personal choice. believe me when I tell you that the level of education our kids are getting is existential and cannot be judged by mere grades.
2. FEW of us have any idea what it takes to operate a school. THAT includes people who are actively involved with stuff like PTA etc. There is WAY more to a school than its outter appearance, or even how the district displays it to the public. There is a deep level of politics involved that only the higher eschelons of admin have to deal with directly the rest only deal with the results of those politics.
3. FEW of us have any idea what its like to come to work everyday and try to educate on any level a large group of adolescents who generally are not the least bit thankful nor respectfull of those attempting to teach them something. Beyond that... many have to go home and deal with their own kids and their own personal problems to boot. That is a level of patience I can only hope to achieve.
4. MOST of the teachers do these things day in and day out and not only manage to keep the cirriculum fresh but do it in the hope that they may improve the life of ONE student.
5. being a teacher is a severe test of ones character. Sure their union does things that outwardly appear trivial and trifling... but again teachers are one of the most under rated professions in the grand scheme of human kind and yours/ mine and ultimately the kids futures depend on them to inspire others to teach in the future. If people stop becoming teachers? Well then refer to the thread
"How stupid can you get."

The principal came to my office and thanked me in person for what I did, though I asked for no recognition. It was my intent to encourage those teachers who may be struggling to remain in their profession for apparent lack of understanding by society.

Done,
Ramon

Modified to Add:

if you sit in the foyer in a school and merely observe the activity around you for a couple of days. You will be surprised at what HAS to happen to make it work. Don't watch the students as much as the other people. It is almost immediately apparent at who is "tenured" and who are new at it. Those who have been doing it for a long time know what their limitations are and those who haven't will quickly adjust or disappear. Also know this... The principal of your childs school is merely a figurehead for public display, the VP is the one who handles the dirt.