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| Random Acts of Kindness Blogfest May 27-31, 2013 |
A teacher gives so
much, almost everything inside the brain and heart. That is what I always believed, always
did. I arrived at school an hour and a
half before the required time to make certain that the day’s preparation was just
right. I stayed two hours after
school to review student work and make adjustments for the next day.
Every day for years, this was my work ethic.
Then, one day I
received an irate letter from a father who ripped me apart.
He had found typos in an assignment I had copied from a professionally produced book of black-line masters. He did not appreciate the topic being pursued and wanted to adjust it to his superior understanding. He thought his child needed more explanation and monitoring—by discussing each lesson taught and assignment given, after the rest of the class had been dismissed.
The
letter, written in small font, covered a full page.
My entire being
sagged in defeat, taking my heart and brain with it. I left after school, numb and confused. Was
there more I could have done?
Flashing forward-- I tightened up my checking-for-typos, adjusted my
explanations of all assignments, and double checking everything. It didn't change that father, but it changed
me. For better? I didn't know.
While going
through old videos, they discovered a video of their son’s reading and speech
presentations recorded that same school year.
They expressed their thanks and appreciation for giving their son such a
wonderful year, for teaching him.
They will never know how
much this act of kindness meant to me. I
could tell them “Thanks!” but that would be inadequate.
I still have the letter and read it occasionally. And I praise God for these parents who gave me more than they could ever know.
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| Source: ChIandra4U |
