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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 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and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 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, 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."
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