Slam+Poetry

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What Teachers Make, or Objection Overruled, or If things don't work out, you can always go to law school

By Taylor Mali [|www.taylormali.com]

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 other 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, write, write. And then I make them 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?

Taylor Mali uses many poetic devices in his slam poetry, "What Teachers Make". The metaphors, "I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor...", and "...an A- feel like a slap in the face if the student did not do his or her very best." in this poem really speaks out to me. These two lines showed that as long as you try in school, you will be successful in life. I am sure that employers would not want to hire workers that do not try their best. The students that get Cs in school that achieves C+' demonstrates that they try their best. The students that usually get As, but gets A- should not be allowed to be in the honour roll, because they downgraded their effort. Besides metaphors, there are also hyperboles in the poem, such as "I hope I haven't called at a bad time". Taylor Mali was exaggerating when he spoke this,. He said this because he was talking about how he makes parents tremble when he calls them, which meant that their child has done something terrible. This poem by Taylor Mali, is truly magnificent with the heaps of hidden poetic devices.

This poem is an inspiration, and encouragement to all the teachers out in the world. It demonstrated how important it is to have determined teachers in our world to help children succeed to their very best. Despite the low, and mediocre salary of teachers, they are appreciated, and acknowledged for their teachings. This poem described how Taylor Mali did not consider the salary he gets paid as a teacher a nuisance, because passing along his knowledge, and setting children right is his life, and dream. This poem, by Taylor Mali is hoped to engage many teachers to continue teaching because of the wonderful responsibility they acquire despite how little cash they get paid.

This poem shows respect to all the teachers that are trapped inside classrooms for many hours with little salary, for that is why I chose it. I have always respected, and honoured the extravagant responsibility teachers have on their hands. Teachers are required to tend to many needs of the youth, such as "...make kids wonder", "...make them question", "...make them criticize", "...make them apologize and mean it", and "...make them write, write, write. Teachers have taught me many important skills in life that I can not learn anywhere else besides school, such as math, history, and science. I am very impressed with teachers, especially in Mount Douglas High School because these teachers helped me achieve 3 As, and 1 B, which was enough to carry me over into the honour roll. I believe that teachers showed not be pitied by the little amount that they are paid, and worshiped because of the huge, and enormous task they behold.