On her very first day of teaching, Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her class. Then she told her students that it was untruth that she loved them equally. Perhaps, it was impossible. In the class, she saw a messy small boy named Teddy Stoddard slumped in his seat. He was untidy in his get up and messy in his figure. He did not play well with others. Mrs.
Thompson usually used to mark X on his papers with a red pen.
One day, Mrs. Thompson reviewed her students' past records. When she, at last, saw Teddy's record, she got surprised and felt ashamed of herself.
Teddy's first grade teacher commented, "Teddy is a smiling, brilliant and lovely. He does his work neatly and clearly."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, popular in his class. He is getting into trouble since his mother has a terminal illness."
His third grade teacher remarked, "Teddy's mother death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but is facing a lot of trouble. His home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.
His fourth grade teacher penned, "Teddy is hopeless and does not show much interest in his study."
Mrs. Thompson felt even worse when her students except Teddy brought her beautiful Christmas presents. Teddy brought a gift that was clumsily wrapped in the heavy brown paper. Mrs. Thompson opened it in the class. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a second-hand rhinestone bracelet and perfume; however, she explained how pretty the bracelet was. She put the bracelet on and dabbed the perfume on her wrist. After school, Teddy said, Ma'am, you smelled just like my mom."
After Teddy went, Mrs. Thompson cried for an hour. Then, she quit teaching subjects, but started teaching the children. She paid her special attention to him. She brought radical change in him, his studies and behavior. He had become one of the smartest children in the class within a year.
Thompson usually used to mark X on his papers with a red pen.
One day, Mrs. Thompson reviewed her students' past records. When she, at last, saw Teddy's record, she got surprised and felt ashamed of herself.
Teddy's first grade teacher commented, "Teddy is a smiling, brilliant and lovely. He does his work neatly and clearly."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, popular in his class. He is getting into trouble since his mother has a terminal illness."
His third grade teacher remarked, "Teddy's mother death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but is facing a lot of trouble. His home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.
His fourth grade teacher penned, "Teddy is hopeless and does not show much interest in his study."
Mrs. Thompson felt even worse when her students except Teddy brought her beautiful Christmas presents. Teddy brought a gift that was clumsily wrapped in the heavy brown paper. Mrs. Thompson opened it in the class. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a second-hand rhinestone bracelet and perfume; however, she explained how pretty the bracelet was. She put the bracelet on and dabbed the perfume on her wrist. After school, Teddy said, Ma'am, you smelled just like my mom."
After Teddy went, Mrs. Thompson cried for an hour. Then, she quit teaching subjects, but started teaching the children. She paid her special attention to him. She brought radical change in him, his studies and behavior. He had become one of the smartest children in the class within a year.
***
One day, Mrs. Thompson found a note under her door. The note revealed that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. The note came to her from Teddy.
Six years later, she again got a note from Teddy that said, 'She was still the best teacher he ever had in his life.'
Eight years later, she again got a note 'She was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had.' The note was signed by Theodore F. Stoddard, MD a little longer name.
***
In the spring, she got another note that said Teddy had met a girl, he was going to be married...his father had died a couple of years ago and...if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom, 'it would make him very happy.'
Mrs. Thompson agreed in a moment. She wore the bracelet and dabbed the perfume that was given to her by Teddy at Christmas many years before. Then she went to Teddy's wedding.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in her ear, "Thank you ma'am 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, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I did not know how to teach until I met you."
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