Thread: You Can Make A Difference

I was going through some papers a day or so ago and found this. Hope it blesses you as much as it did me. hzchoice

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Subject: SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher.Her name was Mrs. Thompson. As she stood before 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 there 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'x and the 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 hsi 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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. Thomson 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 of perfume.

But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbling 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 hier lie that she would love all of 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 sur she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on that last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson, for beilieving 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."


hzchoice

hzchoice,

Good post. I have saved a copy of it on my system as it will make a difference in many of our lives.

Wally

wow...what a wonderful story!

I can relate somewhat. I take information to children in detention centers. I thought I was going in to teach things like 'anger management' 'peer pressure' and 'recognizing abusive relationships'.... and I guess I do. But more importantly I have found that these children need to know that someone cares about them.... each one, as an individual. Many of these kids feel that they have been 'discarded' by family and by our society. They are angry, misguided, and confused....
As it turns out, I am also still learning much from them.

Childern have so much to teach us, if we will only listen.

Thank you for the heartwarming story.

Fantastic story!

Have to dry some tears away...

All the best

RR

I really needed a teacher like that... but looking back I'm glad I didn't... I would be a computer systems engineer instead of the great guy I am now!

wow!

My daughter went through something to that effect last year with her 2nd grade teacher. Her father and I split up last year and so that was rough on her. Her teacher kept on saying how much of a sweet girt she is, but she will most likely flunk the 2nd grade because she is struggling so bad and just can't seem to grasp. I went in on the second to the last day of school and argued with the principal, teacher, guidance, social worker, ..... They wanted me to prove that it was not her home life that was affecting her. I some how proved it to them. They gave her some of the "specialty tests" and she passed everyone with flying color's, other than her comprehension of the reading parts (which is the fundamentals of life). I got them on that spot to assign her to special education and they passed her to third grade. Over the summer I hired a tudor for her. Now, in the middle of third grade, she is making straight A's even with out the tudor. Her teacher this year has been absolutely wonderful and very supportive. We definitely need to really remember the teachers in our life and what they do for our children. God bless of the teachers that positively affect our Children.

Like RoadRage Me to I have to dry some tears away.
Exelent story.Life!!!!!!!!!

I'm loving their big, stacked rhinestone cuff bracelets. Collecting a few like this one is now becoming a total addiction!