Monday, July 30, 2007

The day the teacher cried


"Hello! My name is Daniel, I'm 12 years old, in Gr 5, and last week I made my teacher cry. "


The little boy in the picture above is in my Register class, which means that I'm acting as his (and his classmates') guardian at school. We meet every day during the first 15 minutes of the school day, and I teach them Computer Literacy once a week as well.

Last week Friday we had the track events part of our school's House Sports meeting. I was assigned to class duty to finish off some admin work that the principal wanted before the weekend.

The heap of letters that had to be signed and double checked for errors (175 of them!) kept me busy for most of the morning. Somewhere around 10am the door to my class flew open.

Daniel stood in the doorway.

"Hello Ma'am!"

"Yes Daniel, can I help you?"

"No. Just came to see if you're OK." He walked to my table and smiled.

" 'No Ma'am' Daniel, it's good manners, not just No. Remember?"

"Yes. I won't forget!"

"Yes MA'AM!" I had to laugh, he was so sincere but he still needed lots of practice.

He laughed too and looked a bit shy. Just stood there with his hands on my table.

"Daniel, would you mind doing me a favor please?"

"Huh? I mean yes!"

I was scratching in my handbag to find my purse for some money to buy fruit juice. The tuck shop was open all day for the athletics and the juice they sold was cold as ice: totally refreshing even in the middle of winter!

As I got my purse out, I explained what flavor I'd like, but before I had my money in my hand, Daniel started running out the door. I called him back but he just waved a hand at me going down the stairs at full speed.

Oh well, I thought. He'd be back in a minute or so realizing he had forgotten the money, and I went back to signing the letters.

Five minutes later I heard him running up the stairs again.

He planted a fruit juice and pie in front of me, stood back and smiled one of the most beautiful smiles I've seen in a very long time.

"Daniel!? What is this? Here's the money."

"No Ma'am! I don't want the money. It's on me today."

He looked so proud as he stood there grinning. There was no way I could refuse this gift from the bottom of his heart. I opened my arms, he walked around the table and we hugged.

"Love you ma'am," he whispered.

And that's when I cried.

17 comments:

Dr. Grumbles said...

That is so adorable! That had to make your week.

Leah said...

Oh Lordy, I just cried too. What a sweet story.

lady macleod said...

and now... so am I! Wonderful! Wonderful! And what a testament to YOU.

Look on Nourishing Obscurity today, you are the FEATURED BLOG.

Huzzah!!!

Anonymous said...

What a touching story.

Lori Lavender Luz said...

What a great kid and a heartwarming tale!

I bet that was the sweetest juice and the tastiest pie you've ever had.

I love this post.

Furrow said...

That is really beautiful. You must be an amazing teacher to elicit such behavior in a student.

tipsymarie said...

I don't remember how I came to your blog exactly - but I just had to leave a comment. I work in education too, and this made me cry. It is certainly a difficult job, but I wouldn't do anything else, and I imagine neither would you.

The Goddess G said...

Karen...I'm crying just reading it. What a wonderful and awesome story.
~Carole

Joy said...

Shit, he made me cry, too.

Geohde said...

Awww....thats such a meltingly sweet moment. Truly gorgeous.

Sarah said...

aw, i may cry too!

Here I am said...

I just got teary eyed myself! Thanks by the way for your comment today. : )

KarenO said...

Wow. Thanks SOOOO much for all your warm and wonderful comments. I really didn't think I'd get more than 3 or so replies - it's not a topic related to Infertility at all! Not to say that blogging about something else won't work, I just thought it was so way off.

Thanks too for all your compliments on the being a good teacher etc. You know, I don't think I'm so great at all. I'm very strict, and some days I think too much so. But I do know I'm consequent in how I apply discipline in my classes, and unfortunately you can't fool kids for very long: if you've got a teensy weensy heart where it concerns them, they will weedle the truth out of you in the quickest way possible!

Hmmmm I feel a new post brewing... ;)

Schatzi said...

Oh I would have cried also. And he even got the Ma'am right! Clearly you have made a significant impact on at least this child. What an accomplishment! Bravo!

KarenO said...

Aaaaah so THAT'S how you write Madam in short in the American/English way! Schatzi you darling! It never ceases to amaze me how different but similar we use the language on opposite sides of the globe.

Let me go edit this post so the rest of the world doesn't view it as a spelling error ;)

Pamela T. said...

What a tremendous story and what a great capacity you have to connect with people of all ages. Very proud to be your friend!

Princess Peach said...

OMG...what a beautiful experience for both of you! You made me smile and cry!