Do You Make a Difference?

Some of you may have already seen this, but it was in our newspaper and it struck me so that I had to share it with you because so many of my friends and family are teachers or work somewhere in the school system.  Never having been a school teacher myself, but knowing all the hard work that goes into it, I hope this makes some of you feel good about what you do. Thank you to all the teachers who don't get paid near enough what they deserve!

  It seems that a classroom teacher was in the company of some other high-paying professionals who said some demeaning things concerning public education.
  The teacher was asked what she makes, and she answered with honesty and frankness. You want to know what I make...

• Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.
• I make C-plus feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor winner.
• I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for five minutes without an I-pod, Game Cube or movie rental.
  
• 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 to write and then to make them write.  Keyboarding isn't everything.
• I make them read, read and read.
• I make them show all their work in math.  They use their God-given brain, not the man-made calculator.
• I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.  I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.
• I make my students stand, placing their hand over their hearts to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, one nation under God, because we live in the United States of America.
• Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they are given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

  Then when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head high and pay no attention.

  You know what I make?  I make a difference.

I pray as you start school, that you will make a difference in the life of someone who needs it!