Those who can, teach...

I was watching a movie the other night and the guy (a bit of a jerk) says to his friend, who'd just accepted a teaching job, "those who can, do and those who can't, teach."
This may be a bit of a biased blog but I'd like to point out a few flaws in that statement. I know it's just a movie, but it's been said in real life many times.
I think whoever originally said this statement of complete and utter bullshit meant to say, "teachers teach and do a hell of a lot more than I ever could." 
But actually, the quote is from a George Bernard Shaw drama, "Man and Superman." In the play it's used to encourage a student who received a harsh feedback from a teacher. We've all been there. Until late, I never realized why certain teachers were more harsh than others. As a teacher, I can now understand this. You truly do see your students' potential and abilities, so it's frustrating when they don't apply themselves.
First, teaching is a lot of doing. If I can get my students to correctly apply all learned language in a functional sentence, I have done a lot.
If my students can explain something above their language level simply by trying, I've done something by nurturing them through their less confident days.
My favorite professor in college had a book published, constantly busted her ass writing essays and blogs, was involved in writing communities, constantly guided her students in a million different directions. Oh, and she was a mother of four who got her doctorate while raising them. My other professor has lived in every possible state and worked for every possible news publication, and another worked in Washington, DC. So please, don't ever say a teacher teaches and doesn't do. 
I wasn't a teacher when I came to China, and when I leave here, I may never step foot in another classroom for the remainder of my existence. But I will, forever be a teacher. I've got the gray hairs and caffeine addiction to prove it.
If I can maintain my students' attention for an entire class period, I feel like Spartacus after battle. When I can make it through an entire class period without "raising my voice," I did something. When I have 500 paper cuts in a day from cutting tiny pieces of paper for class preparation I've done something. (Don't laugh, cause y'all know a paper cut can feel like amputation).
In school, I was the chatter box who always got in trouble for talking in class. And we all had those teachers who got dead silent for five minutes and asked if we were finished talking or not. Gah, those teachers annoyed me... And now that's me. I understand the struggle now and I apologize again to my former teachers. I keep coloring sheets on hand to avoid fits of rage. Rather than raise my voice and attempt discipline in a foreign tongue, I just throw out the markers and the kids dive in like a piñata just busted.
It took me six months to train my students, but I finally did it. People are right when they say kids smell fear. They also smell anger, exhaustion and caffeine overload. My kids, even the youngest, just like my friends, can tell my mood by my disposition when I walk in the classroom. Does this mean they're angels every time? One could only hope... At the end of the day, they still love me, and I them. They're not old enough to understand a lot of things, but I think they understand I'm not angry at them. Disappointed or annoyed maybe, but never angry. They're just kids. My job is to do, and do it the best I can, and in the best way for my kids.
Lastly, don't say I don't do as a teacher when for the next six weeks I have one day off and will be working 12 hours a day. My old roommates, who teach adults, made a joke once that all I do is dance and play games. I still haven't let them live that down. 
To my teachers who work summer school, serve as sponsors for clubs and sports teams. For the field trips, after school tutoring and anything extra, don't ever let someone tell you you don't do!I think many teachers did so much prior to teaching, and only want to continue to do. They know what it's like to do, and how difficult it is to reach, and simply want to pass that ambition, motivation and encouragement onto their students. At least I know that's why I do it. I sometimes feel the hardest thing to do, in teaching and life in general, is to encourage someone enough that they see the greatness others see in them. We're all a bit guilty of that, aren't we? :)