Def Poet, NYC Schoolteacher, Taylor Mali
He says, “the problem with teachers is what’s a kid gonna learn from someone who decided that his best option in life is to become a teacher.”
He reminds the other dinner guests that, you know, it’s true what they say about teachers, “those who can do, and those who can’t, teach.”
I decide to bite my tongue instead of his and resist the urge 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 supposed to be polite conversation.
“I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor, come on, be honest, what do you make?” And I wish he hadn’t done that, asked me to be honest, because you see, I have this little policy about honesty and ass-kicking. Which is, if you ask for it, then I have to let you have it.
You wanna know what I make? I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could, I can make a C plus feel like a congressional medal of honor and I can make an A minus feel like a slap in the face, how dare you waste my time with anything less than your very best.
You wanna know what I make? I make kids sit through forty minutes of study hall in absolute silence. No you may not work in groups, no you cannot ask me a question, so put your hand down, why won’t I let you go to the bathroom, because you’re bored, and you don’t really have to go, do you?
I make parents tremble in fear when I call home at around dinnertime. “Hi this is Mr. Mali, I hope I haven’t called at a bad time. I just wanted to talk to you about something that your son said today. He said, “leave the kid alone, I still cry sometimes, don’t you?” And it was the noblest act of courage that I have ever seen. I make parents see their children for who they are and who they can be.
You wanna know what I make? I make kids wonder, I make ‘em question, I make ‘em criticize, I make ‘em apologize and mean it, I make ‘em write, write, write, and then I make ‘em read.
I make ‘em 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 ‘em show all their work in math class and then hide it on their final draft in English.
I make ‘em realize that if you’ve got this (points to head), then you follow this (points to chest), and if somebody ever tries to judge you based on what you make, you give them this (makes a fist).
Here, let me break it down for you so you know what I say is true.
Let me break it down for you so you know what I say is true.
Teachers make a goddamn difference, now what about you?
