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 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fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much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 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, 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 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."