What Teachers Make

The main theme of “What Teachers Make” is teaching and education. This theme grounds the poem in its narrative, setting the opening scene in which the speaker is at a dinner party when one of the guests starts to talk about “the problem with teachers” (Line 1) and finally turns to the speaker — a teacher — and asks what they make, referring to their income. As a central theme to the poem, Mali emphasizes that education isn’t just about what kids learn in textbooks or classrooms; it isn’t solely about subject matter (English, math, and science). The type of education that teachers provide is education concerning life. Many lines in “What Teachers Make” emphasize this. For instance, “I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could” (Line 18) indicates that Mali teaches kids how to believe in themselves, test boundaries, and persevere even when they feel they can’t go any farther. Similarly, the line “I make parents see their children for who they are / and what they can be” (Lines 36-37) illustrates education beyond the classroom, educating parents to understand their children and celebrate their gifts, all while believing in what they can achieve.