13 Famous Quotes That Don’t Make Sense If You're a Teacher
This article was written by Andy McCall. Andy is in his 9th year teaching, and does everything to honor his little girl, Penelope, who passed last year. Check him out on his Blog or on Facebook: Penelope's Path.
DO YOU WANT TO WRITE FOR BORED TEACHERS? SEND YOUR SUBMISSION TO: blog@boredteachers.com!
In today’s society, we live with quotes. Some come in the form of inspirations and full of meaning, while others are in the form of memes and make us laugh uncontrollably. Either way, we live by some, some make us think, some are in tattoo form, and others simply hang over a doorway. I have found many though that don’t make a lot of sense when applied to the classroom. I credit the Forbes top 100 list of most inspirational quotes for this one. I didn’t find a Forrest Gump quote on this list, but that would have made a list of quotes that hang in our classrooms.
1. "We Become What We Think About." -Earl Nightingale
If that is true, then I’m a State test, stack of papers, evaluation, 20 faces staring at me, lesson planner, computer not working, etc.
2. "80% of success is just showing up." -Woody Allen
Nope. You actually have to do the work that I have assigned, not just stare at it then ask me 100 questions about things I’ve already answered or gone over.
3. "I’m not a product of my circumstances. I’m a product of my decisions." -Stephen Covey
If that were true, why am I worried about a state test from a company hired by people that have never been in a classroom?
4. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you imagined." -Henry David Thoreau
I should be on a beach during a real summer break, with a cold drink, no PD, and healthcare not taken out of the paycheck I deserve for what I do.
5. "Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart." -Ancient Indian Proverb
You best believe if little Johnny has that look on his face, I’m pursuing what I think he is doing or grabbing what he just stuck in his mouth.
6. "Teach thy tongue to say, 'I do not know,' thou shalt progress." -Maimonides
Tell a bunch of 8 year olds that you do not know and see what happens. They better change that to “Let’s Google it.”
7. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take our breath away." – Maya Angelou
Then just in one week of teaching I would be 87 going on 100.
8. "I didn’t fail, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong." –Benjamin Franklin
No, you failed, and I’m going to need a parent signature on that test if you want to take it over.
9. "If you want your children to turn out well, spend twice as much time with them and half as much money." –Abigail Van Buren
I spend twice the amount of time with them than some parents and you spend twice the amount of money keeping them quiet or busy when it’s your time. But it is my fault when they don’t turn out well.
10. "Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs."
I was hired to help build the dreams of others.
11. "Education costs money. But then so does ignorance." –Sir Claus Moser
Where is this money? Is the ignorance spending the money? I need a raise.
12. "It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not stop." –Confucious
Except when there is a fire drill, trying to get home at the last bell, trying to get to school when you are late, in the lunch line, or when they’ve done something wrong and heading to the principal’s office.
13. "Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning." –Gloria Steinem
If that’s so, tomorrow’s lesson will include the beach, Jimmy Buffet, no kids, and a huge paycheck.
SHARE THE LOVE!
Leave a comment