Sep 23 2008
Taylor Mali: “On What Teachers Make”
This is a follow-up post from yesterday featuring poet and practicing teacher Taylor Mali. I this spot on and poignant poem entitled “On What Teachers Make.” I’ve personally always thought it absurd that those with six to eight years of intensive education are too often forced to be paid so marginally - $30,000 at the lowest and $75,000 at the highest of plateaus. This is changing for some salaries in New York State where I live, but largely I’ve always felt the good teachers who helped mold me when my parents were at their jobs deserved to be honored with payment that quite literally speaking, does not insult their intelligence. I think very often of how particular teachers helped me believe I could do all that my academic gifts allowed. They encouraged me to be my best in all things. Even my math teachers, when I kept failing tests never gave up on me. They did as Mali says “make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor.” This piece is dedicated to those steadfast math teachers who never, never thought I couldn’t pass, those various professors in college who helped me take my writing from a remedial level to graduate status, to anyone who sees potential in any student when no one else does. I humble myself before you and say thank you, thank you, thank you! May you never be forgotten!
As for the bad teachers who have tenure, well….
Keep waxin’!
Stumble It!
Standing on the shoulders of giants, for me, is the greatest honor of my life. Thank you for this. ~k