 |
 |
>>> Jean Thompson stood in front of her fifth-grade class on the >>very >>> first day of school in the fall and told the children a lie. Like most >>> teachers, she looked at her pupils and said that she loved them all >>> the same, that she would treat them all alike. And that was impossible >>> because there in front of her, slumped in his seat on the third row, >>> was a little black boy named Teddy Stoddard. Mrs. Thompson had watched >>> Teddy the year before and noticed he didn't play well with the other >>> children, that his clothes were unkempt and that he constantly needed a >>> bath. And Teddy was unpleasant. It got to the point during the first >>> few months that she would actually take delight in marking his papers >>with a >>> broad red pen, making bold X's and then marking the F at the top of the >>> paper biggest of all. Because Teddy was a sullen little boy, no one >>> else seemed to enjoy him, either. At the school where Mrs. Thompson >>taught, >>> she was required to review each child's records and put Teddy's off >>until >>> last. >>> >>> >>> When she opened his file, she was in for a surprise. His >>first-grade >>> teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright, inquisitive 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, "Teddy continues to work hard but 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withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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. He is tardy and could become a >>problem." >>> >>> By now Mrs. Thompson realized the problem but Christmas was >>coming >>> fast. It was all she could do, with the school play and all, until the >>> day before the holidays began and she was suddenly forced to focus on >>> Teddy Stoddard. >>> >>> Her children brought her presents, all in beautiful ribbon and >>> bright paper, except for Teddy's, which was clumsily wrapped in the >>> heavy, brown paper of a scissored 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 cologne. >>> She stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the >>> bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume behind >>> the other wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed behind 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 speaking. Instead, she began >>> to teach children. >>> >>> Jean Thompson paid particular attention to one they all called >>"Teddy." >>> >>> >>> As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she >>> encouraged him, the faster he responded. On days there would be an >>> important test, Mrs. Thompson would remember that cologne. By the >>> end of the year he had become one of the smartest children in the >>class, >>> and well, he had also become the "pet" of the teacher who had once >>vowed >>> to love all of her children exactly the same. A year later she found a >>> note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that of all the teachers >>> he'd had in elementary school, she was his favorite. >>> >>> 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 his favorite teacher of all time. 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 graduate from college >>> with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson she was still >>his >>> favorite teacher. >>> >>> 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 his >>favorite >>> teacher but that 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 to be married. He >>> explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was >>> wondering... well, if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the pew >>usually >>reserved >>> for the mother of the groom. And guess what, she wore that bracelet, >>the >>> one with several rhinestones missing. And I bet on that special day, >>> Jean Thompson smelled just like... well, just like the way Teddy >>remembered >>> his mother smelling on their last Christmas together. >>> >>> THE MORAL: You never can tell what type of impact you may >>make on >>> another's life by your actions or lack of action. Consider this fact >>> in your venture thru life.