From a school principal's speech at a graduation, he said:
"The doctor wants his child to become a doctor, the engineer wants his child to be an engineer, the businessman wants his ward to become CEO, but a teacher also wants his child to become one of them, as well!! However, nobody wants to become a teacher by choice, very sad, but that's the truth!"
That night, the dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing about life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decide his best option in life was to become only a teacher?" To stress his point, he said to another guest, "You are a teacher, Mrs Sharma. Be honest, What do you make?"
Teacher Mrs Shama, 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+ feels like the Congressional Medal of Honour winner. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't even make them sit for 5 minutes, without an iPad, Game Cube or movie rental. You want to know what I make?"
She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table,"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 how 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 learn to use their God given brain, not the man made calculator. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about Malaysia while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."
Mrs Sharma paused one last time and then 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 in all your lives, educating kids and preparing them to become CEOs, doctors, engineers and many other professions. What do you make Mr. CEO?"
His jaw dropped; He went silent....
Ps: As a teacher, we teach, we educate, we help, we create, we do not have super powers, but we need to be the Superman and Supewomen just to let all the kids learn.
