There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson. And 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 didnt 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 Mr. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold Xs and then putting a big “F” at the top of his papers. ………
…………….
…………….
The story doesnt end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said hed 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. Thompsons 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 then said, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didnt know how to teach until I met you.”
There is a very beautiful saying, “A bad teacher complains; a good teacher explains; the best teacher inspires.”
Please remember that wherever you go, and whatever you do, you will have the opportunity to touch and/or change a person’s outlook. Please try to do it in a positive way.
Duration : 0:5:37
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: Education, Inspiration, inspire, Motivate, motivation, Motivational, Story, Student, Teacher, Teacher-Student, Teddy, TeddyStory, Touchy