... there was this little boy.
His mother put him in a kindergarten at a place called
His recollection is that his kindergarten
teacher just didn't like him...
He recalls that she looked something kinda sorta like this...
... only meaner...
... nastier...
...uglier...
He recalls that she was always angry with him... always grabbing him by the shoulder... by the sleeve of his shirt... and pulling him down the hallway and putting him by himself...
He remembers one day that he and his kindergarten class mates were coming in from having played outside for a while... he remembers standing in line to get a drink of water from a water fountain... and when it was his turn to go up the three-step stand, being grabbed and pulled away by the teacher...
I... uh... he remembers a little girl who was a class mate saying, "... but he wasn't DOING anything!!!"
He has this memory of getting into the car when his Mom picked him up at noon that day... and with all of the energy and might that a four year old could muster,and telling her...
"I am NOT going back to that school!!!!!!!!"
When I went back to kindergarten,
my Mom took me to a new place...
There were two teachers there... they were so kind... SO nice...
But there was this one woman that was special...
... and remember, I was just a kid.
Even though I spent a short time... less than a year with this teacher, she made such an impact on my Life...
I can't even begin to count the number of times I have thought of this woman down through the years...
I remember our Christmas Parade that year... how is THAT for a memory... and this photo that my Mom had...
.JPG)
My little brother (right) and me...
Just in the past few weeks,
I have learned that she is still with us....
and here very soon, I am going to make the
drive to go down and visit with her...
Tell her what all of her kindness, tenderness, and sweetness
did for a goofy four year old... that grew up into a goofy adult...
It's amazing the impact that a teacher can have on someone... even the smallest of us... there are many teachers whose names I don't or can't remember...
Yet, I have never forgotten this lady...
Thank God for teachers, for people like her...
that make this kind of committment to what they do...
and the impact that they have on their students.
God Bless You!!!
~Little Boy Shoes~
Just today I heard an ad asking about your favorite teachers. I had some good ones..but none that has ever made a bigger impression on me than Ms. Perry, my kindergarten teacher.
ReplyDeleteShe taught me what true courage really is.
ReplyDeleteYou know... for a four-year old, she was SO kind... SO sweet... I honestly can't think of another teacher that I have had that has had this kind of impact on me...
DeleteShe is 95 years old...
I haven't seen her in SO many years... I honestly have no idea how long it has been... her son has told her that I am coming down Friday... he said she remembered me and became weepy... so... she remembers me as well... (I hope those are happy tears...) HAR!!!
As an educator, we should always been open to being a good influence on our students...
~shoes~
It is the best reward any teacher could ask for.. having a former student come up and tell them how much they impacted their lives and how they never forgot them. If you are able to... make sure you do just that. I can tell you, as a teacher... it is the greatest gift you can ever give. So happy to hear that you will have that chance Shoes !
ReplyDeleteHey you... I AM going to tell her all of those things...
DeleteYes, it is a GREAT chance... I can hardly wait!!!
~shoes~
My third grade teacher, Mrs. Schecter (hope I spelled it right)... I remember her tutoring me and somehow, I was so comfortable I called her 'Mom'... she giggled when I called her that... I remember her patience- which was totally opposite of my real mom...
ReplyDeleteHi there, Chris...
DeleteI KNOW what you mean about how comfortable you were... Yes, it is/was all about the patience...
How are you??
~shoes~
That's an awesome story. And EVERY adult who comes in contact with children can leave a lasting impression.
ReplyDeleteIt's up to us to make sure it's a warm and positive one.
I'd like to go back in time and tell that little boy-you-were that things will work out okay for him.
(((Hugs)))
Hi there, Ms Ami...
DeleteI try to be up-beat and greet the students I meet in the hallway...
If you were to talk to that little boy-I-was... do you think he would listen?
~shoes~
Very touching story. Heartbreaking to hear how mean some people can be to innocent children. Glad you escaped her and found someone special.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a heart-warming post. I think many of us have a special teacher in our past who made a difference. Too bad teachers today don't have the respect they once did. I was a teacher for many years and I finally got to the point where I couldn't handle all the paperwork and restrictions.
ReplyDeleteThat turned out to be the sweetest story. Teachers can impact us in the most magnificent of ways. I am so glad that you ended up where you belonged.
ReplyDeleteYou will make her year! What a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cutie!!
ReplyDeleteI'm back... Thanks for checking on me!
~kim
Hi there, Kim... It's good to know you are back...
Delete:o)
~shoes~
I haven't heard from you in a dog's age. Hope all is well. Great story!
ReplyDeleteHi, my friend... I'm doing pretty ok...
DeleteI've just had some things that needed "processing"... if'n that makes any sense...
How are things for you? ... with you??
It's always good to hear from you!
~shoes~