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Freeper Canteen ~ Sunday Chapel Thread ~ THE POWER OF A TEACHER~ September 14, 2008
The Canteen Crew ^ | September 6, 20013 | Serving the Best Troops and Vets in the WORLD!

Posted on 09/13/2008 4:56:29 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma


 
 

 

 


 


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

 

 


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; chaplain; freepercanteen; military
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To: Brad's Gramma

Thank you for Chapel Grammie....*Hugs*


21 posted on 09/13/2008 7:25:01 PM PDT by AZamericonnie
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To: SoldierDad; vigilante2; jackv; Jemian; sneakers; arbee4bush; Azbushgal; LUV W; mystery-ak; ...
Thanks, Military Families, for your service to our country.


John Conlee ~ They Also Serve


22 posted on 09/13/2008 7:45:56 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: Jet Jaguar; txradioguy; Laurita; CMS; OneLoyalAmerican; tongue-tied; Defender2; Beagle8U; ...
To our Military -

Thank you for protecting us. Sleep well and safe.
May you be protected. May your families' hearts be at ease.

Thank you to our Allies.

**********************************

To those of our Military and Allies who gave their all,
- May your souls rest in peace. May your families be comforted.
May your/our country always remember.


23 posted on 09/13/2008 7:48:06 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
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To: HiJinx

LOL! Wish I had thought of that one! :D


24 posted on 09/13/2008 7:48:48 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W; All

Breaking news from Interfax wire report off passanger plane crashes in Russia killing 100 on board


25 posted on 09/13/2008 8:29:55 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: SevenofNine

God rest their souls.

Thanks for letting us know, Seven.


26 posted on 09/13/2008 8:32:27 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: LUV W; Kathy in Alaska; All

OHH UK Sunday Times also report that there is family fight among Chia Pet rugrats between son that got busted at Tokyo Disenyland and Eric Clapton son LOL!

It funny story

Also Sunday UK Express is report that exile Al Quaada radical cleric from London England said Paul McCartney should be kill he going play in Israel this October part of world tour


27 posted on 09/13/2008 8:34:15 PM PDT by SevenofNine ("We are Freepers, all your media belong to us, resistence is futile")
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To: SandRat; The Mayor; Kathy in Alaska; HiJinx; MeekMom; laurenmarlowe; Tanniker Smith; LUV W; ...
Happy Lord's Day to each of you!!!

Sorry for cutting out, but we *thought* we had a hot date. But oh noooooooo............the RANGE place we were going....closed early for the night.

*sniff*

28 posted on 09/13/2008 9:06:00 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Typical Whitey Gramma just like Obamies!)
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To: Brad's Gramma

Well, poo!

Guess McDonald’s doesn’t measure up? :D


29 posted on 09/13/2008 9:08:37 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: LUV W

Well poo is RIGHT!

We did McD’s for our anniversary one year....no kidding.

We WERE going to go out to a nice restaurant, then decided the mall sounded So Much Better .... so we stopped at the golden arches and dined in *cough* style before going on a shopping spree!

:)


30 posted on 09/13/2008 9:10:10 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Typical Whitey Gramma just like Obamies!)
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To: Brad's Gramma

LOL!

Shopping sprees trump food EVERY time! :D


31 posted on 09/13/2008 9:14:52 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: Brad's Gramma
Closed? Well that will never do!

Rustling up you & Gramps some scrambled eggs....:)

32 posted on 09/13/2008 9:15:38 PM PDT by AZamericonnie
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To: LUV W
KNOW YOUR HYMNS...............

These are darling Luvie!

33 posted on 09/13/2008 9:19:07 PM PDT by AZamericonnie
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To: AZamericonnie; LUV W

My post to the two of you is.....lost.....in cyberspace.

Oh man.
The range closes early.
My post disappears.

*SOBBING*


34 posted on 09/13/2008 9:20:03 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Typical Whitey Gramma just like Obamies!)
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To: AZamericonnie

LOL! Thanks, (((Connie)))

Hope you are having a lovely weekend!


35 posted on 09/13/2008 9:21:58 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: Brad's Gramma; mylife

I got it...that’s when we head for the desert. Ya’ can still do that out here, y’know!

As for food and shopping...we’ve done it similarly. The Food Court in most malls out here beats Mickey D’s hands down, though.


36 posted on 09/13/2008 9:24:09 PM PDT by HiJinx (~ Support our Troops ~ www.americasupportsyou.mil ~)
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To: Brad's Gramma

~~patting back~~ It’s okay....

I have had many losses to cyberspace lately. We need
more bandwidth around this place! Sheesh!


37 posted on 09/13/2008 9:28:59 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: HiJinx

Yep....we could still head to the desert! However, this was a spur of the moment decision....

I’ll *sniff* get over it.

I SO want to move......to a state that lets me have the freedom to shoot on my own land.

I have plans. I’m praying they’re the Lord’s plans, too....


38 posted on 09/13/2008 9:29:51 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma (Typical Whitey Gramma just like Obamies!)
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To: AZamericonnie

Man! That food is making me hungry all over again! LOL!


39 posted on 09/13/2008 9:30:27 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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To: HiJinx

Walter’s is WAY better! :D

Howdy, Jinxy!


40 posted on 09/13/2008 9:33:38 PM PDT by luvie (McCain/PALIN!!!!--'nuff said! :D)
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