# I made my kid's teacher cry! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 3, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123 "2006-08-03T01:14:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/1 "2006-08-03T01:14:10Z")
Well, she had it coming. > [@](#): > > Ms. K., > > We would like to thank and congratulate you for a job well-done with respect to your first-grade class this past school year. Your consistently positive attitude has made you a pleasure to work with for your parent volunteers, and has fostered your students’ desire to learn and grow. These children and their parents will remember you fondly for the rest of their lives. > > Your patience and professionalism have also had a tremendous impact on our son, T., and have enabled him to address significant academic and social challenges. When he transferred to [The School] at the beginning of the year his literacy skills were limited to knowing the alphabet and most of the sounds the different letters represented. His math skills were as yet unevaluated. As he leaves the first grade, he is reading well into, and possibly beyond, the second grade level and he continues to love to read on his own time at home. Similarly he has excelled in math and has made great strides in overcoming serious behavioral issues. It is regarding this last point that, in our opinion, you have played the most pivotal role in T’s academic future. > > Never before have we witnessed in an educator the devotion and genuine compassion you showed to our son and to our family this year. When confronted with his particular challenges and often disruptive behavior, your actions were appropriately balanced with ensuring the welfare of his classmates as well as continuing to support his need to develop as a student and a person. So often this sort of child can be branded early on as a ‘problem child’ and simply have no hope of developing to his full potential. You have not allowed this to happen to our son. > > We knew his temperament and personality going into this school year, and we were afraid for him. You have greatly exceeded our expectations. Because of your sensitivity to his needs, your ability to call upon the specialties of your peers and your initiative, we all look forward to next year with renewed hope for his personal and scholastic development. You are an asset to the school, and should be recognized as a model educator. > > Respectfully, > Inigo Montoya > > c.c.: > K., Principal > J., Superintendent This summer T was diagnosed with childhood onset bipolar disorder, but as far as she knew he was just an incredibly moody and often violently disruptive little brat. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/2 "2006-08-03T01:15:32Z")
That’s…that’s…that’s just… nice. Thank you, on behalf of teachers everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/3 "2006-08-03T01:37:55Z")
Public educators are consistently underappreciated. That a teacher would commit such time and effort to paying particular attention to children who appear to have special needs (and without any indication that there is a diagnosable problem at work) is a testament to that teacher’s devotion to, and belief in the career path that s/he has chosen. Good on him/her for the good work, and on you **Inigo** for showing appreciation for it. I believe you’re owed some good karma. ---
**Author:** ![SnakesCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@SnakesCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnakesCatLady)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/4 "2006-08-03T01:40:20Z")
Great letter, and a really great teacher! It was really good of you to cc the principal and the superintendent, so it goes in her personnel file. It’s nice to hear of someone really going good work, especially in the education field, and good to know you appreciate it and show that appreciation. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/5 "2006-08-03T01:41:09Z")
Durn you Inigo! I did NOT see that plot twist coming! (and good on ya, there’s not enough people telling enough people they’re doing a good job) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/6 "2006-08-03T01:48:52Z")
You do realize, I hope, that that sort of letter just encourages them? Jus’ sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/7 "2006-08-03T02:09:19Z")
[QUOTE=Inigo Montoya] These children … will remember you fondly for the rest of their lives. [/QUOTE] I rather doubt that. I don’t remember my first grade teacher. Or second. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/8 "2006-08-03T02:14:19Z")
[QUOTE=Strinka] I rather doubt that. I don’t remember my first grade teacher. Or second. [/QUOTE] Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Bell. Followed by Mrs. Gordon (the bitch!), Mrs. Gower, Mr. Hyatt, and Mrs. Webb and Mr. Lamb. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/9 "2006-08-03T02:26:05Z")
[QUOTE=Strinka] I rather doubt that. I don’t remember my first grade teacher. Or second. [/QUOTE] Kindergarten was Mrs. Eubanks, and 1st grade was Mrs. Harris. Then Mrs. Browning(2nd), Mrs. Bunch(3rd), Mrs. Woods(4th), Ms. Sharpless(5th), and Mr. Williams to round out 6th grade. The elementary librarian was Mrs. Betts. I remember nothing from 7th grade, very little from 8th or 9th. Then, I can name all my high school teachers (but I won’t because I’ve already bored you). Weird. Anyway, thanks **Inigo** for seeing the good so often overshadowed by the problems with educational system. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/10 "2006-08-03T02:31:48Z")
I’m not Aslan. I’m not even Ramandu. But… you have done well, Son of Adam. The Lion is pleased. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/11 "2006-08-03T02:33:11Z")
[QUOTE=Strinka] I rather doubt that. I don’t remember my first grade teacher. Or second. [/QUOTE] My teachers from kindergarten to sixth grade were named, in the order I had them, Young, Shaw, Foster, Byrne, Dolan, Cleaves, and Van Dyke. People DO remember them. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/12 "2006-08-03T02:54:50Z")
Kindergarten to Grade 11: Mme. Sambury-Alleyne, Mme. Vanderwey, Mme. Laflèche, Mme. Buccini, Mme. Cadieux, Mme. Tanner, Mr. Stansfield, Mr. Waples, Mr. Timms, Ms. Gillies, Mme. Werbiski (IIRC), Ms. Biggs. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/13 "2006-08-03T02:59:05Z")
BTW, a few months ago I was randomly googling and found Mme. Tanner (my fifth-grade teacher)'s e-mail address. I sent her a little note of appreciation and was responded to effusively - apparently I’m the only student of hers who has. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/14 "2006-08-03T03:05:03Z")
**Inigo** , your letter almost made \*me \*cry. And I well remember my kindergarden teacher. It was she who taught me english, as I started school still speaking Hindi. My mother tells me when she took me in there, the teacher would ask me what a picture was, and I would rattle off lots of sentences - all in Hindi. Her name was Mrs. Cook and she was a very large, plump woman, who was wonderful to hug and gave hugs often. She defended me often when the other kids made fun of me for my poor English. I actually don’t remember anything before that. Mrs. Cook is the first memory I have of my childhood. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/15 "2006-08-03T04:01:03Z")
You did a good and kind thing. Kudos to you **Inigo**! ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/16 "2006-08-03T04:04:07Z")
[QUOTE=Strinka] I rather doubt that. I don’t remember my first grade teacher. Or second. [/QUOTE] Kindergarten: Mrs. Danes 1st grade: Miss Grother 2nd grade: Mrs. Schrag, then we moved and it was Miss Aley 3rd grade: Mrs. Huffman, then she left to have a baby, and it was Mrs. Evans 4th grade: Mrs. Volkland 5th grade: Mrs. Gray 6th grade: Mr. Bradbury, the best damne teacher I ever had I finished 6th grade in 1967, and did the above names without looking them up. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/17 "2006-08-03T04:08:53Z")
I pictured Ed Asner yelling at Nick Nolte’s French teacher in _Rich Man, Poor Man_ when I saw this thread’s title. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/18 "2006-08-03T04:08:46Z")
I pictured Ed Harris yelling at Nick Nolte’s French teacher in _Rich Man, Poor Man_ when I saw this thread’s title. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/19 "2006-08-03T04:28:13Z")
Seriously… I expected to open this to find that Inigo had attacked the teacher or something. Good to see that it was complimentary. My mother’s an elementary school teacher, and getting a letter like that would melt her heart. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123/20 "2006-08-03T04:34:33Z")
As a teacher, I have to say you freakin’ **ROCK** for sending that letter. As you noted by the tears, a gesture like this is incredibly appreciated and makes us love our jobs even more. Thanks on behalf of the profession for recognizing Ms. K’s extraordinary efforts on your son’s behalf. Oh yeah, and my teachers were, starting with 1st: Mrs. Wintonik, Mrs. Efron, Mrs. Baldassano, Ms. O’Sullivan, and Mrs. Daraugh. Long may they all run (assuming they all still do, which ain’t a given at this late date). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-made-my-kids-teacher-cry/367123.md?page=2)