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A Teacher's Lesson 老師的一堂課
Many years ago, Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class and told the children a lie that she loved them all the same. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, a little boy named Teddy Stoddard was so messy and inattentive in class that 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.
許多年前,湯普遜老師對著她五年級的學生們撒了一個謊:她說她會平等地愛每個孩子!但這是不可能的,因為前排就坐著泰迪‧史塔特--一個邋遢、上課不專心的小男孩,事實上,湯普遜老師很喜歡用粗紅筆在泰迪的考卷上畫大大的叉,然後在最上排寫個不及格!
One day, as Mrs. Thompson was reviewing each child's past records, she was surprised by comments of Teddy's former teachers:
某一天,湯普遜老師檢視每個學生以前的學習紀錄表,她意外地發現泰迪之前的老師給的評語十分驚人:
"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," wrote Teddy's first grade teacher.
一年級老師寫道:「泰迪是個聰明的孩子,永遠面帶笑容,他的作業很整潔、很有禮貌,他讓周遭的人很快樂!」
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
二年級老師說:「泰迪很優秀,很受同學歡迎,但他的母親罹患了絕症,他很擔心,家裡生活一定不好過!」
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's 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."
三年級老師:「母親過世泰迪一定不好過,他很努力表現但父親總不在意,若再沒有改善,他的家庭生活將嚴重打擊泰迪。」
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school.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."