Three Letters from Teddy
Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 8:09 am
Three Letters from Teddy
>~ Elizabeth Silance Ballard (c) 1974
>
>As she stood in front of her 5th grade class
>On the 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 Stallard.
>
>Miss Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he
>Didn't play well with 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 Miss 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 Miss Thompson taught, she
>Was required to review each child's past records,
>And she put Teddy's off until the 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 such 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"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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, Miss 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.
>Miss Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.
>
>Some of the students 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 Stallard stayed after school that day just long enough to say,
>"Miss Thompson, today you smell 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.
>
>Miss Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
>As she worked with him, his mind began 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'd 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.
>He'd stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the
>Highest of honors.
>Again he assured Miss Thompson that she was still the best and
>Favorite teacher he'd ever had.
>
>Then four more years passed, and yet another letter came.
>After he got his bachelor's degree he
>Had decided to go a little further.
>She was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had.
>But now his name was a little longer...
>The letter was signed "Theodore F. Stallard, M.D."
>
>The story does not end here.
>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 Miss Thompson might agree to sit at the
>Wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
>
>Of course, Miss 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. Stallard whispered in Miss Thompson's ear:
>"Thank you for believing in me.
>Thank you so much for making me feel important and
>showing me that I could make a difference."
>
>Miss 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!"
>
>You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's life
>by your actions ... or lack of action.
>Please consider this fact in your venture through life, and just try
>to make a difference in someone else's life today.
>~ Elizabeth Silance Ballard (c) 1974
>
>As she stood in front of her 5th grade class
>On the 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 Stallard.
>
>Miss Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he
>Didn't play well with 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 Miss 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 Miss Thompson taught, she
>Was required to review each child's past records,
>And she put Teddy's off until the 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 such 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, Miss 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.
>Miss Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.
>
>Some of the students 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 Stallard stayed after school that day just long enough to say,
>"Miss Thompson, today you smell 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.
>
>Miss Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
>As she worked with him, his mind began 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'd 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.
>He'd stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the
>Highest of honors.
>Again he assured Miss Thompson that she was still the best and
>Favorite teacher he'd ever had.
>
>Then four more years passed, and yet another letter came.
>After he got his bachelor's degree he
>Had decided to go a little further.
>She was still the best and favorite teacher he'd ever had.
>But now his name was a little longer...
>The letter was signed "Theodore F. Stallard, M.D."
>
>The story does not end here.
>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 Miss Thompson might agree to sit at the
>Wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
>
>Of course, Miss 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. Stallard whispered in Miss Thompson's ear:
>"Thank you for believing in me.
>Thank you so much for making me feel important and
>showing me that I could make a difference."
>
>Miss 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!"
>
>You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's life
>by your actions ... or lack of action.
>Please consider this fact in your venture through life, and just try
>to make a difference in someone else's life today.