HistorySlam poetry was started in a Chicago jazz club by Marc Smith in November of 1984 but officially kicked off in San Francisco in the 90’s . Slam Poetry itself is a competition were poets read and recite their original work in front of an audience which later gets judged. It was considered one of the most energetic poetic movements in the 90’s. The most notable Slam poets are Taylor Mali, George Watsy, and Buddy Wakefield. Slam Poetry is still largely participated in today with competitions such as Louder than a Bomb.
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What Teachers Make by Taylor MaliHe 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 dinner guests that it’s also true what they say about lawyers. Because we’re eating, after all, and this is polite conversation. I mean, you’re a teacher, Taylor. 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 policy about honesty and ass-‐kicking: if you ask for it, then 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 go to the bathroom? Because you’re bored. And you don’t really have to go to the bathroom, do you? I make parents tremble in fear when I call home: Hi. This is Mr. Mali. I hope I haven’t called at a bad time, I just wanted to talk to you about something your son said today. To the biggest bully in the grade, he said, “Leave the kid alone. I still cry sometimes, don’t you? It’s no big deal.” And that was 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. I make them read, read, 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’ve got this, then you follow this, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this. Here, let me break it down for you, so you know what I say is true: Teachers make a goddamn difference! Now what about you? |
Analysis
In Taylor Mali’s “What Teachers Make” he uses his words and emotions to express how strongly he feels about teachers and what they do for students and not what they make in a dollar amount. He expresses that he, being a teacher himself, makes students learn, love and be dedicated to their work and give him their all. When he describes what he makes, we understand because everyone has been in that position as a student and everyone has experienced a teacher that was so committed to their students and work that they will make think differently about teachers as a whole. The poet tries to make us understand why he is so involved and his no-non sense way of teaching. This poem is an honest confession about teachers actively making a difference.
Literary Devices
Cliché- The poet uses the cliché “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” to prove people wrong about teachers not being able to accomplish anything so they go into teaching.
Euphemism- Mali uses a euphemism when he says “I make them understand that if you’ve got this,
then you follow this, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this.” He is trying to politely giving anyone who denies teachers skill the middle finger by emphasizing the word this.
Imagery- This poem uses imagery when he describes his students sitting in study hall doing work, raising their hands and asking to go to the bathroom.
Irony- “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” can also be considered ironic because teachers, like all professionals, have to go to school and prepare for their job. Also it brings up the fact that teachers can teach it but cannot do it themselves.
Euphemism- Mali uses a euphemism when he says “I make them understand that if you’ve got this,
then you follow this, and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you give them this.” He is trying to politely giving anyone who denies teachers skill the middle finger by emphasizing the word this.
Imagery- This poem uses imagery when he describes his students sitting in study hall doing work, raising their hands and asking to go to the bathroom.
Irony- “Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach” can also be considered ironic because teachers, like all professionals, have to go to school and prepare for their job. Also it brings up the fact that teachers can teach it but cannot do it themselves.