Cynay

As she 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withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 he r 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.."
>>
A year later, she found a note under her door, from
Teddy, telling her that she was 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 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 had 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, MD.
>>
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet
another letter that spring. Teddy said he had 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
at the wedding in the place 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.
Moreover, 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."
>>
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr.
at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the
Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

pmaslan

Cynay....how dare you make me cry so much...but thank you I didn't know I had any tears left to shed...........

reader

What a tear jerker. Tears are rolling down my face!!!!

herewegoagain

I'm sitting here at work and crying, darnit !! What a wonderful story.

equus

Can't really think of any better thing for it to be about!

When I read through it I couldn't help but think of the cruelty D's teacher had dealt out. This should be in every teacher training course - ok, I'm dreaming now.