Sunday, January 16, 2011

Mrs. Thompson and Teddy

Her name was Mrs. Thompson and his was 'Teddy'.


As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.


But 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 didn't play well with the 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 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 had 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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, and 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 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, 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 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 favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer - The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.


The story doesn't end there. You see, 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 Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding 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. And 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."

salam
after reading this story,it made me ponder

am i wanna be a Teddy?
who has strong intention n spirit never give up
can i be like him?
am i d Teddy?


or am i wanna be a teacher like Teddy's teacher?
who inspired Teddy 2 become someone
can i be like her or just be myself
can i inspired someone until he/she become a Teddy

no matter which 1 i am, i know that it is x 2 late for us 2 become Teddy and Mrs Thompson

This story makes me realize how important teacher is in students’ life. As teacher is the second important agent of socializations after parents, we should play our role seriously. As globalization is changing rapidly, we should prepare our selves with this matter. Children are very naïve. They just can see only from their perspective. So, we as a teacher need to help them by giving our support and not condemning them. It is important because children’s nature to be loved and they easily sensitive if someone scold them. For me, scolding and punishment are not suitable to be applied unless you have set the positive punishment for them. In conclusion, this is depends on us to create our children and students plus make difference in their life. Whether it is a good improvement or a bad improvement, the answers are in you.




4 comments:

jat said...

em hm, agree!

"whether it is a good or a bad improvement, the answers are in you,"

totally agree. whatever it is, a teacher should think wisely before any action is taken.

and also i do agree that scolding and punishment aren't suitable to be applied unless the teacher has set the +ve punishment. both aren't practical nowadays i guess... even in ipta it is not appropriate. there must be a better way to overcome any problem.

and sometimes i just don't understand why certain lecturers treat their students as if they are in high school or to exaggerate, in detention class. students won't have the feel to be in class then.....

Anonymous said...

nangissssssss
nangissss
isk2:(
x kesah la jd yg mana pun..
janji ikhlas kerana allah...

nver loose hope kpd allah!
-cincan-

Elly Jade said...

jat.yup thats true..
da besar2 ni xyahla kan nak denda2..huhu
ktrg dulu pun rasa macam alahai,napela nak denda2 ni kan
plz treat us like an adult.huhu

Elly Jade said...

intan sayang...
thanx ya...betul 2
yg penting ikhlas
waaaaaaaaaa
susahkan nk ikhlas kalau nak mengajar

 

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