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Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 19:25:49 -0700
From: vern hanks <haznvern@adnc.com>
Reply-To: haznvern@adnc.com
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To: "Winkowski, Stan & Alice" <glomar@webtv.net>
Subject: Teacher Story
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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 & 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 & noticed that he didn't play well with
the
other children, that his clothes were messy & 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 & 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 & 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 & 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 & 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 & his home life
will
soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade
teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn & doesn't show much interest in
school. He doesn't have many friends & sometimes sleeps in class." By
now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem & she was ashamed of herself.
She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents,
wrapped in beautiful ribbons & bright paper, except for Teddy's. His
present which 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, & 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,
& 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, & writing, & 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, & 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, & she was still
he
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, & would soon graduate from
college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she
was
still the best & favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life. Then
four more years passed & 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 & 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 & was going
to
be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years
ago &
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 other, & 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 & 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."
