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 blood X's and the 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." Teddy's 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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."
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 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!"
~ Author Unknown
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Now for my take on this short story:
I firmly believe that if a light isn't switched on in a child's mind, then someone or something has constantly been shutting it off for him or her. It pained me to read that the teacher took delight in giving Teddy red marks. It also made me realize how imperfect we all can be, and how quickly most of us realize our faults so that we can become better people. This short story goes to show that teachers are truly more than what their title provides. The old adage, "never judge a book by its cover" tends to bite at me as I read on. You don't know a person's ordeal lest they confide in you. Alternatively, it is good to know that she learned a valuable lesson from her misjudgment.
I am a proud mother of a child with supersonically, hyper-speed ADHD. He thinks he knows absolutely everything and has a horrible temper. Today, he constantly interrupted me while I was trying to complete math assignments online. Even though he runs me ragged, all the stress of being a parent to a child of his status melts away with just one hug from his little arms. Like the used perfume and jewelry that the teacher received, it's the little things that mean so much. I stand up for my son unconditionally because I believe in him, no matter what wrong he's ever done. In return, I'm always learning special things from him. He is the sole reason why I want to be an educator; to encourage children with ADD/ADHD to know that they are as perfectly special as anyone else. And unless you can convince me otherwise, I will never give up on my students unless it is impossibly beyond my control.
Having said that, I am glad she didn't give up on Teddy. It makes me wonder what would have become of him had she not had a change of heart. If I could change the way a child views his/her world, be it academically or socially, it would be all I could ever ask for. It is no secret that teachers do not get paid handsomely. However, at the end of the day, it would be comforting to know that I did my job to the best of my ability and changed a child's perspective for the greater good. That in itself is more of a reward than anything else in this world.
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