The Dying Boy
The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their school work during stays in the citys hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the childs name and room number and talked briefly with the childs regular class teacher. “Were studying nouns and adverbs in his class now,” the regular teacher said, “and Id be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesnt fall too far behind.”
The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, “Ive been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs.” When she left she felt she hadnt accomplished much. But the next day, a nurse asked her, “What did you do to that boy?” The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize. “No, no,” said the nurse. “You dont know what I mean. Weve been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. Hes fighting back, responding to treatment. Its as though hes decided to live.”
Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: “They wouldnt send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a dying boy, would they?”