FReeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel ~ THE POWER OF A TEACHER ~ 02 September 2012

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

 

 

 

THE POWER OF A TEACHER

Yesterday, I related the story of a young man who had been labeled as "retarded," yet achieved remarkable success because of one teacher who convinced him that someone else's judgment need not become his reality. The account pointed out the importance of a healthy self-image, and the power of a vision. Today, I want to expand on that thought a bit. What was it that made the teacher in that story so different? Confidence? Experience? Expertise? No, I think it was something far more basic. Let me illustrate with another example.

Eric Butterworth tells the story of a college professor who once sent his sociology class into the Baltimore slums to take case histories on 200 boys. Based on these histories, and their previous studies of sociology, the students then evaluated each boy's likelihood of future success. In every case the prognosis was the same: "This kid doesn't have a chance."

Twenty-five years later, another professor came across that study and had his students follow up. The shocking results contradicted all accepted sociological theory. Twenty of the subjects had died, or had moved away and could not be located. Of the remaining 180, however, all but four had achieved more than ordinary success as lawyers, doctors and businessmen! What could account for this remarkable turn of events?

Intrigued, the professor investigated the matter further. Soon a consistent pattern began to emerge. Each of these men had been motivated and encouraged by a teacher. In fact, by the SAME teacher! She was much older now, but still alive and alert, so the learned scholar sought her out. "What magical formula," he asked, "had she had used to pull these boys out of the slums and into successful careers?" Her eyes sparkled as she said with a gentle smile, "It's really very simple; I LOVED those boys."

That's the real key, isn't it? As someone has said, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." I have an acquaintance who wants very much to be a coach. He is knowledgeable of his sport, experienced (as a player) and credentialed as a coach. Yet he has proven to be totally ineffective at teaching and motivating young players. Why? They view him as a "bully" -- arrogant, uncaring and harsh. And the fact that they neither respect nor trust him is reflected in their performance.

Consider, on the other hand, the example of Annie Sullivan, who took on the task of training a child with multiple handicaps. In his book, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO HEALTH AND NOT BEING SICK, Bruce Larson points out that, when Ms. Sullivan began her work, her charge was little more than a "hostile, rebellious, untamed animal." With "tough love", however, Ms. Sullivan fought her way in to the girl's life and released one of the most gifted and inspirational women of all time -- Helen Keller. Larson concludes, "Each of us has the power to perform miracles of that sort, if we can begin to communicate to other people that they are important to us, and of supreme value in the sight of God."

One of the most cherished passages in the Christian scriptures (I Corinthians 13) concludes with the statement that three things -- faith, hope and love -- will last throughout eternity. "But the greatest of these," it advises, "is love." May our lives and our legacies reflect that guiding principle.

CAPT J. David Atwater, CHC, USN

 

[oldteen]

Hugs and prayers, my!

How in the world did you manage that? Are you going to have it tended to??

[mylife]

I put the carpet cleaner out for the morning chores and I stumbled on the hose in the middle of the night.

Blammo!

[mylife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmVSN6fHd40

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Teenster ((HUGS))

Been missing you so don't stray off the reservation.....

The sun popped out today, there were no seismic sea waves created by earthquakes and spent some time with my son and a couple cute young wahines playing football today. So all in all things are great.

[SandRat]

Evenin’ oldteen,...((hugs))

The Girls just got home from a day of shopping in Tucson.

Nate is standing up using anything he can hold on to; piano legs, coffee table, etc. Tries to climb the stairs but isn’t allowed to.

[mylife]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An1HX38UMRY

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, teen...*HUGS*

Thanks for the Sunday of Blessings....things are going fairly well. One day at a time. The challenge of late for my Mom has been getting my Dad up and out of bed and doing something. He wants to sleep. His internal clock has to be really messed up. We preach the need for circulation. He did do a little outside yesterday and today between the rainy parts.

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours. Your Marines doing well? Have you had a nice weather summer?

I will try to rest as I can. Sleep is a good thing. d:o)

[oldteen]

Sorry to hear that. Just be careful and get it checked out!

[oldteen]

Nice...thanks!

[oldteen]

Believe me...I'm kept mighty close to the reservation!

Good to hear things are great! You're one of the lucky ones, even if it's only for a day! :)

[oldteen]

Stairs can be a danger so it’s good he’s not allowed. Sounds like his confidence will push him soon to let go!

[Kathy in Alaska]

my!! How did you manage that? And have you gotten those 13 stitches yet?

[left that other site]

No lessons today...Holiday Weekend.

For some reason i had a headache today and did something unusual...I took a NAP! LOL.

[left that other site]

It was sunny and hot today, and i washed the car! :-)

Then I took a nap because i think I got too much sun.

[HiJinx]

Saw it - loved it!
Pray for our country, my friend.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Idaho...((HUGS))

A Blessed Lord’s Day to you and yours.

Mostly rainy here.

[HiJinx]

Dude!
Sorry to hear it; hope your occipital protuberance mends well.

[oldteen]

Circulation is a necessity in life. The older we get the less we realize it. Went through that with my Mom. She would walk from her bedroom to the diningroom table and back and that was the extent of it. Finally got to the point where her legs were so weak they couldn't hold her up.

I pray your Mom can get him up daily and he'll stay up and moving. Is he on any new meds that might cause him to be so lethargic?

Young Marines are doing what they do and the old Marine doesn't do much...lol.

We had a fairly mild summer. Not that many days over the century mark. (Which doesn't bother me! lol) It got so chilly last night I had to close all the windows!

Rest when you can and take that 'ME' time you deserve!

[HiJinx]

Hey, you! Have missed you around here lately.
Hope all is well, now.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Best for sure...

A Blessed Lord’s Day, mountainlion, to you and yours.