Letters From Teddy - Part 1 of 6
"You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don't try". - anon
Teddy's letter came today and now that I've read it, I will place it in my cedar chest with the other things that are important to my life.
"I wanted you to be the first to know."
I smiled as I read the words he had written and my heart swelled with a pride that I had no right to feel.
I have not seen Teddy Stallard since he was a student in my 5th Grade class 15 years ago. It was early in my career, and I had only been teaching for two years.
From the first day he stepped into my classroom, I disliked Teddy. Teachers (although everyone knows differently) are not supposed to have favorites in class, but most especially are they not to show dislike for a child, any child.
Nevertheless, every year there are one or two children that one cannot help but be attached to, for teachers are human, and it is human nature to like bright, pretty, intelligent people, whether they are 10 years old or 25. And sometimes, not too often, fortunately, there will be one or two students to whom the teacher just can't seem to relate.
I had thought myself quite capable of handling my personal feelings along that line until Teddy walked into my life. There wasn't a child I particularly liked that year, but Teddy was most assuredly one I disliked.
He was dirty. Not just occasionally but all the time. His hair hung low over his ears, and he actually had to hold it of his eyes as he wrote his papers in class (and this was before it was fashionable to do so!) Too, he had a peculiar odor about him which I could never identify.
His physical faults were many, and his intellect left a lot to be desired, also. By the end of the first week I knew he was hopelessly behind the others. Not only was he behind; he was just plain slow! I began to withdraw from him immediately.
(to be continued in Part 2 on Monday).
(NOTE: I don't know the original author of this, but I got a copy through the Delaware Valley College. I figured it was pretty neat stuff, so thought I'd spread it around a bit)
PEACE.
Rick, I've officially ended my run as a blogger today, with a post about Nietzsche. Posting daily has proved too much of a strain for my weak constitution. Plagiarizing is actually harder work than you might imagine. It's not simply a matter of picking up a book or magazine and copying. I have to identify with the material and be able to make it my own.
In any event, I want to thank you for being one of my loyal readers lo these past several months.
As a general once said, "old bloggers never die, they just recycle their posts." And that's precisely what I'll be doing. I'm going into the recycling business.
Thanks again, Rick; good luck with your blogging and good luck in life. (I'll still be stopping by once in a while to read you, which is always profitable, and perhaps leave you a comment.
Posted by
My Daily Struggles |
11:27 a.m.
GRRRRR....I thought YOU were a teacher dammit!! And I was wondering why the hell you'd get us all the way to this point & not tell us when you started liking Teddy. Dammitalltohell!
;)
Love ya. Way to keep us coming back.
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:32 p.m.
Hey, just thought I would pop in and say hello, cuz I know I've been a bit scarce lately. I'm still popping in tho!
Posted by
Secretly Me |
6:08 p.m.
Hiya Evy! Im catchin up on a few blogs with my coffee this mornin! I love the history lesson, it is truly amazing about how the prices of things have gone soooo sky high from back then. The letter - Oh god it makes me cry! I got in in an email once. And those two uhhh folks down there should NEVER have sex - ewwwwwwwwww LMAO!!!
Posted by
KSHIPPYCHIC |
4:43 a.m.
Gary: Your posting really moved me. As you say, this blogging is a thing one moves in and out of, and I fully understand why you're taking a break (esp. in light of the "brain-food" stuff you put in front of your readers. It's always been a treat to reat what you've posted, plagarized or not. I felt a little pang of guilt when you referred to me as a "loyal" reader, as I've cut back on the number of blogs I get to each day, and so am no longer a "daily".
Thanks also for your good wishes, and believe please that they are reciprocated in kind. We're a unique breed, we are!!
Do keep in touch. I'd miss your wit (and occasional shot!). Take care of yourself.
Jane: Your comment implies that a teacher can't leave a little suspense hanging? But then you make up for it later. Damnitalltohell. Is that stronger or weaker that the space-interrupted version? Curious minds want to know!
Mel: Guilt trip big time. I've been meaning to shoot you off an e-mail for some time now, and obviously haven't. Bad me! Look for it soon, and keep popping by!
KS: Oh sure! Go and blow my surprise all to hell and back! This wasn't supposed to be one of those things that circulate through e-mail, 'cause I got it at an instructor's conference one time. Now I'm bummed out (kidding!)
Posted by
Evydense |
8:46 a.m.
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