When it comes to thankless professions, being a teacher settles high on a list of jobs that can be full of emotionally draining days.
So on the odd occasion affirmation comes, it’s worth noting and then celebrating.
A 5th grade teacher from the US has posted a photo on Twitter of an end-of-year letter a student wrote, saying the words had him “tearing up”.
“So I walked in the classroom and found this letter on the desk that one of my kids wrote to me and… I tried so hard not tear up,” he wrote alongside an image of the letter.
“To Mr. J, Thank you for being a awesome teacher and for being amazing,” the letter read.
“This school year was so fun and I enjoyed it because of you. I wish more teachers was like you. I will never forget you. I look at you like my Dad. I never met my Dad but it okay because you treat me like I’m your son.
“You make me so happy. Always feeding me when I am hungry and hug me when I am sad. I will never forget you Mr. J. I love you and I will never forget about you!”
The tweet has had a resounding impact on the internet, with the image itself being re-tweeted more than 140,000 times and liked nearly 450,000 times.
Twitter users were quick to commend Mr J, who looks after a class of 10 to 11-year-olds, for forging strong and important relationships with his students.
“Bless you for having that kind of an impact on a child! More people need to see this as an example,” one wrote.
“That was really deep. It ain’t easy taking the place of a father in a kids life. A big thank you to you and all teachers out there,” another added.
Meanwhile, another suggested Mr. J should keep those words in a very safe spot.
“Keep it in a special place to refer to it on those days all educators have where you question of its all worth it,” they wrote.
Top Comments
This could not happen here. My son is a teacher and hugging students is STRICTLY taboo.
Sad really because the kids don't understand this, they love their teacher and they get rebuffed because of the strict protocol.
The Christmas cards teachers get from students are lovely too. They write 'I love you Mr x', but again when the child tries to hold the teacher's hand in the playground they don't understand when this simple gesture gets rebuffed.
Male teachers walk on eggshells and it's a pity because like the little boy in this story sometimes they are the only males they have contact with.
At one school my son taught a mother, whose daughter had been bullied, said he was the reason her child got up in the morning and went to school.
But it's understandable that in this atmosphere of 'all men are evil predators', that male teachers in particular have to watch their backs against these wholesale attacks/rules but it's the kids who miss out.