As I was
going through some of my files the other day I came across a
wrinkled page on which was written a story that had changed my
whole approach to teaching very early in my career. It brought
back a whole lot of memories about former students of mine who
I remember quite well to this day, not because of their
superior academic accomplishments, but rather for their
courage and perseverance once they realized that someone
actually “believed in them”.
I just have to share this story with you and ask that
you pass it on to any parents and teachers you happen to know.
It had a huge impact, not only on my personal philosophy of
teaching, but also on how I treated my own children.
As Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class
on the very first day of school, she told the children an
untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and
said that she loved them all the same. However, 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 did not play well with the other children,
that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a
bath. In addition, 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withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 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
, 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."
Many years later they met again. By this time Teddy had
gone on to medical school and had become a successful doctor.
They hugged each other for a long while, 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."
During my own 28 years as a
classroom teacher I came across a lot of “Teddy Stoddards”.
My only hope is that they remember me as someone who believed
in them and showed them that they could make a difference.
Have a good
week!
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