Many thanks to Michael Glaser for sharing his poem for the Thank You, Teachers Project.
“Letter to my Fifth Grade Teacher” is a poignant recognition of how a seemingly small gesture can make all the difference. Below is the poem – and here a video of Michael reading the poem.
Michael shares that the poem is based on a real story and hopes to find Ms. Lorenz to send her a thank you letter – and the poem. Ms. Lorenz taught in the Hubbard Woods School, Winnetka, Illinois in about 1954. She would be close to 80 now and probably married and changed her name.
If you know Ms. Lorenz – please email us (tyteachersproject@gmail.com) and we’ll forward the information on to Michael. Thanks!
LETTER TO MY FIFTH GRADE TEACHER
Dear Miss Lorenz:
I’m writing because I was remembering you today,
how soft and kind your voice was and how your eyes
sparkled with laughter and light
which is why I wanted to impress you
and why I was so afraid of spelling
where I knew you would discover
I was just another stupid kid.
And so, on the day of the Big Spelling Test,
I made that tiny piece of paper
and when we put our books away,
I cupped it in my hand for use
only when absolutely necessary.
And you moved up and down
the rows of our desks
pronouncing words until
you stopped next to me,
called out a word and,
when everyone was writing,
reached into my clenched fist,
took the paper and then
walked on.
You never made an example of me,
never spoke to my parents about it,
or even mentioned it to me.
And you never treated me differently either,
just went on as though nothing had happened.
But, of course, something did:
I never cheated again, Miss Lorenz.
I never stole another candy bar
or money from the box
in the top of my father’s dresser –
or from my mother’s purse.
And I am writing to thank you
for treating me with dignity
even as you caught me,
red-handed in sin.
It was as close to Grace as I have ever been.
Perhaps some day I’ll know it once again.
— Michael S. Glaser
From “Disrupting Consensus.” The poem also appeared in Igniting Creativity in Gifted Learners, K-6 (Corwin Press), 2009. Please see his website for more of his poetry.
Candace
June 15, 2016 3:30 amThank you for this poem, Michael. It has been a favorite for years.
“And I am writing to thank you
for treating me with dignity
even as you caught me…” /taught me/saw me/grew to love and accept me….
This is the heart of what teacher do. You captured it flawlessly.
michael s. glaser
June 16, 2016 3:14 amThanks for this affirmation, Candace. It strikes me that the “flawlessly” was captured by Miss Lorenz in understanding that this shy and insecure boy did not need to be called out publicly to learn a lesson about cheating.
It wasn ‘t until many years later when i met my future wife ( also a teacher) that i learned I am mildly dyslexic. — which in turn helped me realize that the fact that I had such difficulty with spelling was not simply because I was stupid. Computers with spell check and Ms. Lorenz are both saviors to my 42 years of teaching “English,” but the intuitive sensitivity of Ms. Lorenz continues to amaze me for all the reasons you suggest. I was seen AND accepted in all my complexity. Such gifts few can give — but I think good teachers do give them all the time.
keep on!
michael