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 make?” Susan, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied,
“You want to know what I make?
“I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
“I make a C+ feel like the winner of the 1)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, must pay no attention because they just didn’t learn.”
Susan paused and then continued.
“You want to know what I make?
“I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make?”
晚宴的客人都圍坐在餐桌旁談?wù)撊松S幸幻凶邮俏黄髽I(yè)總裁,他想分析一下教育的問題。他認(rèn)為:“孩子能從一個認(rèn)定自己人生最佳選擇就是當(dāng)老師的人身上學(xué)到什么東西呢?”他提醒其他的宴會客人,人們是這樣形容老師的:有能力的就去實(shí)干;沒能力的就去教書。為了強(qiáng)調(diào)他的觀點(diǎn),他對另一位客人說道:
“蘇珊,你就是一位老師。說實(shí)話。你做的是什么呢?”蘇珊以坦誠率直著稱,她回答說:
“你想知道我做的是什么?
“我做的是讓孩子們超乎自己想象地努力工作。
“我做的是讓一個獲得‘C+’成績的孩子感覺像是獲得榮譽(yù)勛章。
“我做的是讓孩子們在自修室里安安靜靜地坐滿40分鐘。
“你想知道我做的是什么?
“我做的是讓孩子們充滿好奇心。
“我做的是讓他們?nèi)ベ|(zhì)疑,讓他們?nèi)ヅ小?/p>
“我做的是讓他們道歉,并且真心實(shí)意。
“我做的是讓他們寫作。
“我做的是讓他們閱讀,閱讀,再閱讀。
“我做的是讓他們展示在數(shù)學(xué)方面的所有能力,讓他們完善自己最后的英文草稿。
“我做的是讓他們明白:要是你有思想,追隨心中夢想,而要是有人試圖以你的產(chǎn)出來評判你,那你必須不為所動,因?yàn)槟切┤烁静粚W(xué)無術(shù)?!?/p>
蘇珊停頓了一下,然后接著說:
“你想知道我做的是什么?
“我做的是改變世界。你做的是什么呢?”