Angus - what a wonderful day

I had a wonderful time for my first foray into Angus yesterday afternoon. They were such a nice crowd even though they were in school the afternoon before their St Andrew's Day holiday. Golf courses beckoning, Christmas shopping awaiting, all the languages teachers in Angus seemed very enthusiastic about the teacher support on offer over the next few weeks and months on the MFLE. It's a beautiful place - I'll certainly be going back.

I couldn't resist reading the performance poem recited by Peter at last week's ECML BLOGS conference. Here's a copy for those who are interested:

What Teachers Make, or
You can always go to law school if things don't work out
By Taylor Mali

...at a dinner party

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 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. 
I make them read, read, 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?

Comments

[Chris]

Brilliant. Just brilliant.
And you look very severe qua snowman.

[Cate]

Amen. Well said.

I just found you via Britblogs---I'm a primary teacher and writer in Canada, moving to Scotland next year, and just starting to investigate the exciting possibilities for blogging in education.

I'm adding your URL to my page about edublogging and look forward to reading more.

Thanks!