Three letters from Teddy by ELIZABETH SILANCE BALLARD...
(FOR ALL THOSE WHO TEACH AND LOVE TO.....)


Teddy's letter came today and now that i've read it, I will place it in my cedarwith the other things that are important in 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 stellard since he was a student in my 5th-grade,15 years ago. It was Early in my career, and I had only been teaching for 2 years.From the first day he stepped into my classroom, I disliked Teddy. Teachers(although everyone knows differently)are not supposed to have favourites in a class, but most especially that they are not to show dislike for a child, any child. Nevertheless,every year there are one or two children that one cannot help be attracted to, for teachers are humans and its human nature to like bright,pretty,intelligent people,whether they are 10 years old or 25. And sometimes, not too often,fortunately,there will one or two student to whom the teacher just can't seem to relate.

I had thought of myself quite capable of handling of my personal feelings along the 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 out of his eyes as he wrote his papers in class(And this was before it was fashionable to do so!)Too, he has a peculiar odour about him which I could never I identify.

His physical faults were many, and his intellect left alot 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.

Any teacher would tell you its a pleasure to teach a bright child.It definitely more rewarding for one's ego. But any teacher worth her credentials can channel her work to the bright child, keeping him challenged and learning,while she puts her major effort in the slower ones. Any teacher can do this. Most teachers do it,but I didn't, not that year.

While I did not actually ridicule the boy, my attitude was obviously quite apparent to the class, for he quickly became the class "goat",the outcast,the unlovable, the unloved. He knew I didn't like him but he didn't know why.Nor did I know then or now why I felt such an intense dislike for him. All I know is that he was a little boy no one cared about, and I made no effort on his behalf.The days rolled on.We made it through the Fall Festival and the Thanksgiving holidays, and I continued marking happily with my red pen. And as the Christmas holidays approached,Teddy would never catch up in time to be promoted to the sixth-grade level.He would be a repeater.

To justify myself,I went to the cumulative folder from time to time. He had very low grades for the first four years,but no grade failure. How he made it, I didn't know. I closed my mind to the personal remarks.

First Grade: Teddy shows promise by work and attitude,but has poor home situation. Second grade:Teddy could do better.Mother terminally ill. Third grade: Teddy is a pleasant boy.Helpful, but too serious.Slow learner.Mother passed away at the end of the year.Fourth grade: Very slow, but well behaved. Father shows no interest.Well, they passed him off four years, but he will certainly repeat the fifth grade.DO HIM GOOD!.I said to myself.

And then the last day before the holiday arrived, our little tree on the reading table sported paper and popcorn chains.Many gifts were heaped underneath,waiting for the big moment. Teachers always get several gifts at Christmas ,but mine that year seemed bigger and more elaborate than ever. There was not a student who had not bought me one. Each unwrapping bought squeals of delight,and the proud giver would receive effusive thank yous. His gift wasn't the last one I picked up; in fact, it was in the middle of the pile. Its wrapping was a brown paper bag, and he coloured Christmas trees and red bells all over it.It was stuck together with masking tape. "For Miss Thompson FROM teddy",it read. The group was completely silent,and for the first time i felt conspicuous-embarrassed because they all stood watching me unwrapping the gift.As I removed the last bit of the masking tape,two items fell onto my desk;a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with several stones missing and a small bottle of dime-store cologne,half empty. I could hear the snickers and whispers, and I wasn't sure I could look at Teddy."Isn't this lovely,"I said as I tried to place the bracelet on my arm. Would you help me fasten it" He smiled shyly as he fixed the clasp,and I held up my wrist for all of them to admire. There were a few hesitant oohs and aaahs, but as I dabbed the cologne behind my ears, all the little girls line up for a dab behind their ears.

I continued to open the gifts until I reached the bottom of the pile.We ate our refreshments and the bell rang.

The children filed out with shouts of "See you next year!" and "Merry Christmas!" but Teddy waited at his desk.When they had all left, he walked towards me,clutching his gifts and books to his chest. "You smell just like my mom" he said softly. "Her bracelet looks pretty on you,too. I'm glad you like it." He left quickly. I locked the door,sat down at my desk and wept,resolving to give Teddy what I had deliberately deprived him of - a teacher who cared.

I stayed every afternoon with Teddy from the end of the Christmas holidays until the last day of school.Sometimes, we worked together. Sometimes he worked alone while I drew up lesson plans or graded papers.

Slowly,but surely,he caught up with the rest of the class. Gradually, there was a definite upward curve in his grades. He did not have to repeat the fifth grade. In fact, his final averages were amongst the highest in the class, and although I knew he was moving out of the state when school was out, I was not worried for him. Teddy had reached a level that would stand him in a good stead the following year,no matter where he went. He had enjoyed a measure of success. ,and as we were taught in our teacher training courses," SUCCESS BUILDS SUCCESS."

I did not hear from teddy until seven years later,when his first letter appeared in my mailbox.

Dear Miss Thompson,
I just wanted you to be the first to know.I will be graduating second in my class next month.

Yours very truly
Teddy Stallard

I sent him a card of congratulations and a small package- a pen and a pencil gift set. I wondered what he would do after graduation. Four years later, Teddy's second letter came.

Dear Miss Thompson,
I wanted you to be the first one to know.I was just informed that I'll be graduating first from my class.The University had not been easy,but I liked it.

Yours Very truly
Teddy stallard

I sent him a good pair of sterling- silver monogrammed cuff links and a card,so proud of him I COULD BURST!And now today, Teddy's third letter.

Dear Miss Thompson,
I wanted you to be the first to know. As of today I am Theodore J.Stallard,M.D. How about that!!

I'm going to get married in JULY, 7TH TO BE EXACT. I wanted to ask if you could come and sit where my MOM would sit, if she was here.I'll have no family there as Dad died last year.

Very truly yours,
Teddy stallard

I'm not sure what kind of gift one send a doctor on completion of medical school and state boards.Maybe I'll just wait and take a wedding gift, but my note can't wait.

Dear Ted,
Congratulations! You made it, and you did it yourself! In spite of those like me, and not because of us,this day has come for you. God bless you.Ill be at the wedding with bells on!.