As the story goes, 5th grade teacher stood in front of her class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. She said she loved them all the same.

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 messy, and that he constantly needed a bath.

Mrs. Thompson would take delight in marking his papers with a big “F” at the top of his papers.

She was required to review each child’s past records.
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 is 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.”

Teddy’s fourth-grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn. He doesn’t have many friends and he sleeps in class.”

By now, Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. When she got Christmas presents, Teddy’s was clumsily wrapped in a grocery bag. Some of the children laughed when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day to say, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled like my Mom used to.”

After the children left, she cried.

On that day, she quit teaching reading, writing, and math. Instead, she began to teach children.

As she worked with Teddy, his mind came alive. 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 her favorite.

Six years went by. She got a note from Teddy. He had finished high school, third in his class, and she was the best teacher he ever had.

Four years later she got another letter, saying he’d stayed in school, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He said Mrs. Thompson was still the best teacher he had.

Then four more years passed. Another letter came. She was still the best teacher he ever had. But now his name was longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.

Teddy said was going to be married. His father had died and he asked Mrs. Thompson to sit at the wedding in place of his mother. She wore that bracelet with several rhinestones missing and the perfume that Teddy gave her.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you for believing in me.”

Mrs. Thompson whispered back, “Teddy, I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”