Inside matters

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 messyand that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actuallytake delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making boldX's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to revieweach 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 aready 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, wellliked 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 h is 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Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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 ofherself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmaspresents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except forTeddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paperthat he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it inthe middle of the other presents. Some of the children started tolaugh 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 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 shewas still the best teacher he ever had in life.Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that whilethings had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honours.He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favouriteteacher he had ever had in his whole life.Then four more years passed and yet another letter cam e. This time heexplained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go alittle 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 does not end there. You see, there was yet another letterthat spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to bemarried. He explained that his father had died a couple of years agoand he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at thewedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of thegroom. Of cou rse, 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 motherwearing 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.'
(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodistin Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)