MOONLIGHTING TEACHERS

                   

Dear Saint John’s School Families,

Have you ever wondered what teachers do in their spare time?  Last Friday evening Father Sam and Saint John’s faculty and staff gathered together in downtown Loveland for dinner and later enjoyed a most delightful show at the Rialto Theater.  We all learned what some teachers do in their spare time.                                                                                                   The play Moonlighting Teachers written and directed by Cheryl Miller Thurston, is a hilarious comedy that educators can  especially enjoy.  It was a show for anyone who has ever attended school-or worked in one.  The cast was made up of teachers, principals, and retired educators from around northern Colorado, Thompson and Poudre Districts, Frederick, Longmont and more.  What talent these teachers have!    

What Do Teachers Make?

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?”  To stress his point he said to another guest, “ You are a teacher, Bonnie.  Be honest .  What do you make?”

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make? ( She paused for a second, then began.) “Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ 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 5  without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. 

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table) 
* 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 I make them write.* Keyboarding isn’t everything. * I make them read, read, read.  * I make them show all their work in math.  They use their 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 heart 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 were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)   Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. 

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. 

What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped, he went silent.  THIS IS WORTH SENDING TO EVERY TEACHER, EVERY CEO, EVERY  PERSON YOU KNOW, even to all your personal teachers like mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, coaches and your spiritual leaders/teachers.          What a profound answer!

A profound answer!!