The difference caring can make is very evident in this story.

Date:   4/5/2006 11:14:39 AM ( 18 y ago)

Teacher- a beautiful story

There is 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 had 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't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 he
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 rhinestone
missing. And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy
remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged
each other, 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."

~Author Unknown~



 

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