Have you ever noticed how people often say that teachers don't earn much? It's kind of ironic, isn't it? Let's start by talking about a well-known poem that illustrates just how much influence teachers have, and how these spiritual and emotional dedicated teachers respond to this calling.
I want to share the poem What Teachers Make (click) with my Ghanaian teachers to let them know that similarly, American teachers, are undervalued. And yet, we all matter more than society acknowledges. I am proud to be a teacher!
I’ve tried to memorize Taylor Mali’s poem, and also happily translated it into Twi. I hope it inspires all my Ghanaian cohort members and other Ghanaian teachers. Here is Taylor Mali’s poem in Twi.
Ɔse ɔhaw a ɛwɔ akyerɛkyerɛfoɔ ho ne;
Dɛn na abofra bi bɛsua
efi obi a osii ɔkwan a eye sen biara a obetumi afa so wɔ asetra mu sen sɛ sɔbɛyɛ ɔkyerɛkyerɛfo?
Ɔkae ahɔho afoforo no anwummere no sɛ ɛyɛ nokware nea wɔka fa akyerɛkyerɛfo ho:
Wɔn a wobetumi, yɛ; wɔn a wontumi, kyerɛkyerɛ.
Misi gyinae sɛ mɛka me tɛkrɛma mmom sen ne de na ko tia sɔhwɛ a ɛne sɛ wobɛkae ahɔho a wobedi anwummere no sɛ nea wɔka fa mmaranimfo ho yɛ nokware.
Efisɛ yɛredidi, ne nyinaa akyi no, na eyi yɛ nkɔmmɔbɔ a ɛyɛ animtew.
Mekyerɛ sɛ, woyɛ ɔkyerɛkyerɛfo, Taylor.
Di nokware. Dɛn na woyɛ?
Na me yam a anka wanyɛ saa — ɔsrɛɛ me sɛ menka nokware — .
efisɛ, woahu, mewɔ saa nhyehyɛe yi a ɛfa nokwaredi ne afunumu-‐abɔnten ho:
sɛ wobisa a, ɛnde ɛsɛ sɛ mema wo nya bi.
Wopɛ sɛ wuhu nea meyɛ?
Mema mmofra yɛ adwumaden sen sɛnea na wosusuw sɛ wobetumi.
Metumi ma C+ ate nka sɛ Congressional Medal of Honor na A-‐ te sɛ nea wɔabɔ no akuturuku.
Ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woanya akokoduru sɛe me bere
ne biribiara a ennu nea eye sen biara.
Mema mmofra tra ase wɔ simma 40 adesua dan mu wɔ kommyɛ koraa mu. Dabi, ebia monyɛ adwuma wɔ akuw mu.
Dabi, ebia woremmisa asɛm biara.
Dɛn nti na meremma wo nkɔ aguaree?
Efisɛ w’afono wo.
Na enhia sɛ wokɔ aguaree ankasa, ɛnte saa?
Mema awofo ho popo wɔ ehu mu bere a mefrɛ fie no:
Hi. Oyi ne Owura Mali.
Mewɔ anidaso sɛ manfrɛ wɔ bere bɔne mu, .
Na mepɛ sɛ me ne wo kasa fa biribi a wo ba no kae nnɛ ho ara kwa.
Ɔkae wɔ asisifo kɛse a ɔwɔ adesuakuw no mu no fam no, .
“Gyae abofra no nkutoo. Ɛtɔ mmere bi a meda so ara su, ɛnte saa?
Ɛnyɛ asɛm kɛse.”
Na ɛno ne akokoduru adeyɛ a ɛkorɔn sen biara a mahu pɛn.
Mema awofo hu wɔn mma sɛnea wɔyɛ
ne nea wobetumi ayɛ.
Wopɛ sɛ wuhu nea meyɛ? Mema mmofra susuw sɛ, .
Mema wogye akyinnye.
Mema wɔkasa tia.
Mema wɔpa kyɛw na mekyerɛ sɛ mepɛ.
Mema wɔkyerɛw.
Mema wɔkenkan, kenkan, kenkan.
Mema wɔkyerɛw wɔn din fɛfɛɛfɛ, akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ ɛyɛ fɛ,
akyinnye biara nni ho sɛ ɛyɛ fɛ, mpɛn pii ne mpɛn pii kosi sɛ wɔrenkyerɛw nsɛm a ɛnte da saa nsɛmfua no mu biako bio.
Mema wɔkyerɛ wɔn adwuma nyinaa wɔ akontaabu mu
na wɔde sie wɔn nsɛm a etwa to a wɔde kyerɛw nsɛm wɔ Borɔfo kasa mu no so.
Mema wɔte ase sɛ sɛ woanya eyi a,
afei wodi eyi akyi.
na sɛ obi bɔ mmɔden da sɛ obebu wo atɛn a
ɛnam nea woyɛ so na wode eyi ma wɔn.
Ɛha yi, ma menkyekyɛ mu mma wo, na mubehu nea meka no yɛ nokware:
Akyerɛkyerɛfo yɛ nsonsonoe a ɛyɛ nyame!
Afei wo nso ɛ?
Taylor Mali na ɔkyerɛwee “Nea Akyerɛkyerɛfo Yɛ.”
Certainly the teachers of WTIG Cohort 2024 do more than one would know. At our Witness Tree Institute’s welcome dinner on June 21, the Ghanaian cohort members cooked dinner for the arriving American teachers. Every participant was greeted with a delightful song celebrating their name and identity. The prevailing positive energy has undeniably contributed to the team's unity. Our esteemed leaders consistently ensure the well-being and happiness of everyone, while all members make valuable contributions to support harmony and learning.
One way to bring people together is through song. This year, I have observed American teachers embracing a local Ghanaian song with great interest while Ghanaian cohort members also beamed with pride as others engaged the joys their culture.
What do teachers make? They make learning happen with each other , they find comfort in their calling, they sacrifice themselves for others, and they make music happen again and again to transform the world.
I was deeply moved when the cohort of American and Ghanaian educators sang this song of gratitude at Anomabo. What do teachers make? They make the world go around.
Kwasi’s Ntim Agyei teaches Mathematics and Creative Arts at the Kpohe D/A Basic School, Old Ningo-Prampram District, Greater Accra.