HerzMariae
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The heart-warming story of Teddy Stoddard

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 …More
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 messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, 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 …More
Alex A
Love the story! That's the sort of story we all need to hear more of. Had enough of COVID-19. Cabin fever etc. etc.
Ultraviolet
The right educators can profoundly shape the lives of their students. Sister Bernadette, Mrs. Harrington, Sister Alice, Mrs. Gardner, Ms. Auclaire are all long dead by now and the schools where they taught are closed.
But they were the ones who encouraged my love of reading and everything that came of it. Sister Librarian (that was her name) used to keep the school library open after school for …More
The right educators can profoundly shape the lives of their students. Sister Bernadette, Mrs. Harrington, Sister Alice, Mrs. Gardner, Ms. Auclaire are all long dead by now and the schools where they taught are closed.

But they were the ones who encouraged my love of reading and everything that came of it. Sister Librarian (that was her name) used to keep the school library open after school for one second-grader who fell in love with the old, old books Catholic families had once donated to the school and spent hours slowly working through them with an equally ancient dictionary, sentence by sentence.
giveusthisday
This was so very beatiful, Herz Mariae. I had been doing a bit of teaching before all this; now I started doing it on line. You've given me the determination to treat each child as if he or she were the most precious gift of God, which, of course, they are!
God bless you!
Joseph a' Christian
@Jim Dorchak Same with me James. I began Catholic elementary school a few years after Vatican 2. As you know, many nuns tossed away their habits and became worldly, during the 1960’s.
Almighty God blessed me with faithful Sister Barbara, as a boy, i feared her strong wholesome discipline, now i am thankful and pray for this good woman.
(In about 7th grade, i remember singing the “Beach Boys-Ba Ba …More
@Jim Dorchak Same with me James. I began Catholic elementary school a few years after Vatican 2. As you know, many nuns tossed away their habits and became worldly, during the 1960’s.
Almighty God blessed me with faithful Sister Barbara, as a boy, i feared her strong wholesome discipline, now i am thankful and pray for this good woman.
(In about 7th grade, i remember singing the “Beach Boys-Ba Ba Ba Barbara Ann” in reference to sister Barbara and laughing with friends. I certainly made sure she was nowhere near to hear.)
Christ the King, bless all your faithful departed, Amen.