19 pages • 38-minute read
What Teachers Make
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Background
Literary Context
“What Teachers Make” adds to the literary tradition of slam poetry. Slam poetry is defined as spoken word pieces that are usually around two minutes long, are easy to understand, and often incorporate literary devices such as rhyme and repetition. Additionally, slam poems tend to have a rhythmic, passionate climax. When performed, this climax tends to be quite moving, with the poet raising or speeding up their voice. Ultimately, what characterizes a slam poem is its theme and subject (which are usually relatable, such as relationships, politics, religion, or social issues), the clarity of its statement, and the element of performance.
Mali’s “What Teachers Make” incorporates all these elements. Mali, who worked as a teacher for many years, speaks about a topic that he’s passionate about: education. Addressing the social issue of the importance of educators, Mali’s poem also celebrates the literary tradition of slam poetry. The poem is rhythmic, passionate, rhyming at times, and there is a clear climactic rise toward the poem’s conclusion when Mali repeats the many things that teachers make students do to help them become better human beings: “I make kids wonder, / I make them question. / I make them criticize. / I make them apologize and mean it” (Lines 38-41). The poem continues to build on itself until finally in Line 54 Mali makes a clear, final statement: “Teachers make a goddamn difference!” (Line 54). Spoken word poetry often blends passion and drama. For example, Mali performs Lines 49-52 by using his hand to point to his mind, then to his heart, until he finally gives the middle finger. This element of performance, borrowing from theater, sets slam poetry apart from traditional poetry written on the page. For other spoken word pieces that fall into this category, consider Prince Ea’s “Dear Future Generations: Sorry.”
Historical Context
Mali is no stranger to theater and performance, having studied drama at Oxford with members of The Royal Shakespeare Company. Mali’s theatrical background seeps into his poetry, turning each poem into a performance piece. This background in theater and drama is key to understanding Mali’s success as a slam poet. Mali has been noted as being “one of the few people in the world to have no job other than that of ‘poet’” (“Taylor Mali.” Blue Flower Arts.). Without his upbringing in education and performance, it’s possible Mali’s poems would not reach such large audiences. Yet Mali is not only a skilled dramatist; he is also an advocate for teachers. As a previous teacher, Mali believes the occupation of teaching is noble and worth celebrating, so much so that he has dedicated a book of essays entirely to the subject: What Teachers Make: In Praise of the Greatest Job in the World. In the opening essay of this collection, Mali concedes that teaching isn’t about teaching facts and figures. Rather, “the real lesson here is the diligence, cooperation, resilience, flexibility, critical thinking, and problem solving” (Mali, Taylor. What Teachers Make: In Praise of the Greatest Job in the World. Berkeley, 2013, p. 12).
Mali’s adherence to a strong belief in the art of teaching is evident in his poem “What Teachers Make.” The poem serves as a testament to, and a celebration of, the work teachers do, which goes far beyond teaching children to spell or solve math problems. For instance, Mali states, “I make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall / in absolute silence” (Lines 23-24), which illustrates discipline. His line, “I can make a C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor / and an A- feel like a slap in the face” illustrate perseverance and determination. Mali expects great things from his students and pushes them to go farther than they thought they could. Finally, Mali teaches his students that their mind is the most important asset (Line 49) and they can use it to help them follow their hearts (Line 50). Mali’s training as a performer and his deep passion for education strengthens “What Teachers Make” into a moving piece that speaks to millions, teachers and students alike.
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