There was a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs.
Thompson. And as she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first
day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at
her students and said that she loved them all the same.
But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat,
was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year
before and noticed that he didn't play well with the other children, that his
clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. And Teddy could be
unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight
in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a
big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each
child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she
reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh.
He does his work neatly and has good manners, he is a joy to be around."
His
second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his
classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has
a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade
teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his
best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon
affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade
teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He
doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She
felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in
beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was
clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs.
Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the
children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the
stones missing, and a bottle that was one quarter full of perfume. But she
stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was,
putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs.
Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children.
Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention
to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she
encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had
become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she
would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she
was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by
before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high
school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in
his whole life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had
been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon
graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that
she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he
explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little
further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher
he ever had.
But now his name was a little longer --the letter was signed, Theodore F.
Stoddard, M.D.
The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
Teddy said he'd met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that
his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson
might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for
the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what?
She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. And she made
sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on
their last Christmas together.
They hugged each, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you
Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel
important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you
have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a
difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A note from GranGran: Thank God for all the wonderful, caring teachers in the
world and a very special "THANK YOU" to Mrs. Dunagan (Jena's kindergarten
teacher)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Another note from GranGran:
I received eMail with this information:
I work in a second grade transition class. I see these type of children 5 days
a week. A copy of this story was given to me by a friend, because she said that
we remind her of the teacher in this story.
The copy I have came from Home Life, January 1997. This is the editor's note...
"This article first appeared in the
March 1976 issue of Home Life. As one of the most requested articles in Home
Life's 50 year history, we thought you would enjoy it today as much as our
readers from 20 years ago. Elizabeth Silance Ballard, the author, has
contributed several articles throughout the years."
|
