<愛的教育> 分享

談衛那 著

五年 前, 我曾跟 一群朋友, 一同到加國BC省內陸的 偏僻的小鎮上去探訪; 猶記得開車開了許多小時才到達那個鎮上; 聽說那晚鎮上有一個小型的鄉間音樂會, 我們興緻勃勃的抱著好奇心加上自己頗愛音樂而一同前往結緣; 到達會場, 已有上百人在那裡匯聚, 好一個音樂會的氣氛 啊! 我們趕快坐定了位子; 開始傾聽加國的民謠與各種各類的樂風; 一首接一首; 一場接一場; 熱鬧生動極了; 深感自己走對了地方, 來到一個真正屬於多元文化的世界, 享受了一場場各國民族的鄉間樂風, 接觸了加國 民間到地的樸實內涵; 感覺自己真正的來到了加拿大

與我們緊鄰的是一群鎮上的人; 她們很好奇我們的出現; 問我們是來自何處? 為甚麼從來沒有見過我們 呢? 我們就乘換場的時間各自的介紹了自己.

原來她們都是一群鎮上的小學老師, 當她們發現我也曾經是小學老師之後, 都用一對欣喜的眼神望著我, 尤其是有一位已過中年的女教師對我的來到特別的驚喜之色寫在臉上; 此刻我心中起了很大的渴望, 渴望能與她們交流; 出門能談談教育才是我最大的願望; 可惜音樂會又響起, 大家不能交流與溝通了; 最後我在散會之前快速的留給她我的E-Mail

事過一段時間之後, 她從電腦中傳來了一篇文章, 我讀懂了其中的內容, 心中無比的感動; 覺得 <愛的教育>正如宗教般的已傳揚到地極; 但是甚麼是真正的< 愛的教育 > 呢? 在這篇文章裡展露無遺.

此篇作品已成為我珍藏的 < 教育經典 > ; 我相信這故事是她的真人真事與親身體驗; 雖然她沒有留下她的芳名; 我們就用故事中的名字稱她: Mrs. Thompson吧! 我們雖未用語言文字再作交流; 但是那一對會說話的明亮眼睛與從電腦中傳來的故事, 已讓我明白 : < 愛的教育 >未必只在大都市中流傳; 在偏闢的小鎮上, 一樣能夠散發出 < 愛的教育能量 >

現在我將此篇 < Teaching > 分享給您; 您能從故事中領會出加 國教師綻放的愛的教育精神; 正是本< 世界教育交流道> 上 渴望的交集 , 更希望您能將此文傳給您的朋友們; 同時您如果有親身體驗的愛的故事; 或聽來的動人的教育經典故事與文獻, 也歡迎您將它傳來, 我會將它一一的呈現在本網頁中, 讓世界上的教育愛因您的參與而能互放光亮. 期待您:

我的E-Mail是 : venus7411@hotmail.com

TEACHING

Mrs. Thompson

There's teaching and then there's TEACHING.

It brought a tear to me eye.

Recently, I heard a wonderful story about how an elementary school teacher by the name of Mrs. Thompson discovered what teaching was really all about.

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Many years ago, she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school and told the children a lie - she said that she loved them all equally and would continue to do so.

But that was not really true this year, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a dirty little boy name Teddy Stoddard.

She had been warned about Teddy.

He didn't play well with the other children, his clothes were messy and he constantly needed a bath. And, Teddy was often unpleasant and disruptive in class.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold "X's" and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. Fortunately, teachers at her school were required to review each child's past records. Mrs. Thompson put Teddy's off until last, dreading what she would find.

What she discovered changed her life! Teddy's Grade 1 teacher wrote,

"Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners...he is a joy to be around."His Grade 2 teacher wrote,

"Teddy is an excellent student, well like by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home is becoming a struggle." His Grade 3 teacher wrote,

"His mothers death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.

" Teddy's 4th grade teacher wrote,

"Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.

She felt even worse when her students brought her presents wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper - except for Teddy's.

His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag.

Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.

Some of the children started to laugh when she unwrapped a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle of perfume that was only one quarter full.

Mrs. Thompson stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, put it on, and dabbed some of the perfume on her wrist.

Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say,

"Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my mom used to.

After the children left Mrs. Thompson cried. From that day forward, Mrs. Thompson quit teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic and began to teach children. She paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all children the same, she discovered that she loved Teddy most of all!

A year later, she found a note under her door from Teddy telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Then six years went by before she got another note.

This time he wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Four more years passed before she heard from Teddy again.

This time he wrote that while things had been tough at times, he had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest honours.

He again assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had in his whole life.

Four more years passed and yet another letter came.

This time Teddy explained that after he got his bachelors degree, he decided to go a little further.

The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had, but now his name was a little longer - the letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.

The story doesn't end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.

Teddy said that he had met a wonderful girl and they were going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place reserved for the mother of the groom.

Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what?

She wore that bracelet - the one with several rhinestones missing - and the perfume.

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear,

"Thank you, Mrs. Thompson for believing in me.

Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back,

"Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference.

I didn't know how to teach until I met you."

@ 期待您寫下您的愛的教育故事 @