Real Story from Theodore F. Stoddard

By: Elizabeth Silance Ballard

http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/teddy-stoddard-story/

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 her 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 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 Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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."

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 which 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 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 favorite teacher he ever had. But 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 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."

You can never tell what type of impact you may have on another's life by your actions... or lack of actions. Please consider this fact in your venture through life and just try to...make a difference in someone else's life today

قصة حقيقية مؤثرة:

وقفت معلمة الصف الخامس ذات يوم و ألقت على التلاميذ جملة :إنني أحبكم جميعا وهي تستثني في نفسها تلميذ يدعى تيدي !!

فملابسه دائماً شديدة الاتساخ

مستواه الدراسي متدن جدا ومنطوي على نفسه ،

وهذا الحكم الجائر منها كان بناء على ما لاحظته خلال العام

فهو لا يلعب مع الأطفال و ملابسه متسخة

ودائما يحتاج إلى الحمام

و انه كئيب لدرجة أنها كانت تجد متعة في تصحيح أوراقه بقلم أحمر

لتضع عليها علامات x بخط عريض وتكتب عبارة راسب في الأعلى

ذات يوم طلب منها مراجعة السجلات الدراسية السابقة لكل تلميذ وبينما كانت تراجع ملف تيدي فوجئت بشيء ما !

لقد كتب عنه معلم الصف الأول : تيدي طفل ذكي موهوب يؤدي عمله بعناية و بطريقة منظمة.

و معلم الصف الثاني : تيدي تلميذ نجيب و محبوب لدى زملائه و لكنه منزعج بسبب إصابة والدته بمرض السرطان.

أما معلم الصف الثالث كتب:لقد كان لوفاة أمه وقع صعب عليه لقد بذل أقصى ما يملك من جهود لكن والده لم يكن مهتما به و إن الحياة في منزله سرعان ما ستؤثر عليه إن لم تتخذ بعض الإجراءات

بينما كتب معلم الصف الرابع : تيدي تلميذ منطو على نفسه لا يبدي الرغبة في الدراسة وليس لديه أصدقاء و ينام أثناء الدرس

هنا أدركت المعلمه تومسون المشكلة و شعرت بالخجل من نفسها !

و قد تأزم موقفها عندما أحضر التلاميذ هدايا عيد الميلاد لها ملفوفة بأشرطة جميلة

ما عدا الطالب تيدي كانت هديته ملفوفة بكيس مأخوذ من أكياس البقاله.

تألمت السيدة تومسون و هي تفتح هدية تيدي وضحك التلاميذ على هديته وهي عقد مؤلف من ماسات ناقصة الأحجار و قارورة عطر ليس فيها إلا الربع

ولكن كف التلاميذ عن الضحك عندما عبرت المعلمة عن إعجابها بجمال العقد والعطر وشكرته بحرارة، وارتدت العقد ووضعت شيئا من ذلك العطر على ملابسها ،

ويومها لم يذهب تيدي بعد الدراسة إلى منزله مباشرة

بل انتظر ليقابلها وقال : إن رائحتك اليوم مثل رائحة والدتي !

عندها انفجرت المعلمه بالبكاء لأن تيدي أحضر لها زجاجة العطر التي كانت والدته تستعملها ووجد في معلمته رائحة أمه الراحلة !!

منذ ذلك اليوم أولت اهتماما خاصا به وبدأ عقله يستعيد نشاطه و بنهاية السنة أصبح تيدي أكثر التلاميذ تميزا في الفصل ثم وجدت السيده مذكرة عند بابها للتلميذ تيدي كتب بها أنها أفضل معلمة قابلها في حياته فردت عليه أنت من علمني كيف أكون معلمة جيدة.

بعد عدة سنوات فوجئت هذه المعلمة بتلقيها دعوة من كلية الطب لحضور حفل تخرج الدفعة في ذلك العام موقعة باسم ابنك تيدي .

فحضرت وهي ترتدي ذات العقد و تفوح منها رائحة ذات العطر ....

هل تعلم من هو تيدي الآن ؟

تيدي ستودارد هو أشهر طبيب بالعالم ومالك مركز( ستودارد)لعلاج السرطان ) .