Taylor+Mali

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He says the problem with teachers is, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminds the other dinner guests that it's true what they say about teachers: Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.

I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the temptation to remind the other dinner guests that it's also true what they say about lawyers.

Because we're eating, after all, and this is polite company.

"I mean, you¹re a teacher, Taylor," he says. "Be honest. What do you make?"

And I wish he hadn't done that (asked me to be honest) because, you see, I have a policy about honesty and ass-kicking: if you ask for it, I have to let you have it.

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 a Congressional medal of honor and an A- feel like a slap in the face. How dare you 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, write, write. And then I make them read. I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful over and 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 on their final drafts in English. I make them understand that if you got this (brains) then you follow this (heart) and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this (the finger).

Let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: I make a goddamn difference! What about you? I can relate tho this poem alot because i have had a wide variety of teachers befor. I have had teachers who really dont like me, ive had teachers that pick on me for fun. But ive aso had teachers that care about me, teachers that want me to succeed and feel that if i fail they fail and will do anything in there power to help me achieve. That is why i chose this poem for my assignment because i have been there. The theme of "What teachers make" is to explain that in life its not how much money you have that makes you a good person its how you change the world. The poem is a conversation between a lawyer who makes alot of money and a teacher that changes lives but it doesnt really reflect that on his paycheck. An example of alliteration is the last part of the poem where he keeps repeating I make _______ to get the point through that making change is more important than making money. An example of irony is when he calls the mother at home and suprisingly talks aout something posative not negative to her. This poem gave me chills and made me really look at teachers in a different way.