Presentation to Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation
Dana E. Friedman

October 25, 2008

I’d like to thank the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation for bestowing on me the Child Care Advocate Award in Memory of Anne O. Krancer.  I am truly honored to receive this award from a great organization. I’d like to thank the Lokoff family and all of their friends and ongoing supporters for coming together tonight despite economic woes, political turmoil and the World Series.  No matter what happens on the ball field tonight, there’s a home run here at the Rose Gala.

You all know we are here to celebrate and reward those who educate our youngest children. That these individuals go unrecognized and poorly paid is why the work of the Lokoff Child Care Foundation is so critical.  A friend shared the story of a retired teacher from California that will help you understand the contributions of the child care teachers you are helping here tonight.

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?’  He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers:  ‘Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach. To stress his point, he turned to a guest and said: ‘You’re 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?  Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for five without an I-Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.  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 have respect and take responsibility for their actions.  I teach them to write and then I make them write. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math.  I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, 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 and concluded, ‘Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, 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?’

I know we are all making a difference here tonight. And I can’t thank you enough for letting me be a part of the wonderful work you do.  I would ask only two more things of you tonight:  First, of course, you must root, root, root for the home team.  And secondly, I want to make sure that in ten days, you take the time to vote, and when you do, please think about children.  You will of course be thinking about the economy.  Just remember that the majority of those in poverty are children.  Most of the uninsured are children. The majority of the homeless are children.  We live in a great nation that should not be satisfied being 20th out of 21 industrialized nations on an index of child well-being.  You are making a difference helping those who make a difference. Please do it again on November 4.  Thank you.