Teaching is a tough gig.
Don’t get us wrong, it comes with many great benefits. On the other hand, it’s not a career that will make you rich. At least not on its own.
Each day, there’s a lot of work to be done.
Educating children in one room with varying abilities and knowledge, along with being disciplinarians, too, means teachers pour their hearts and souls into the classroom every day.
Some days are definitely frustrating.
Other days they see that lightbulb turn on or kids helping others and they’re reminded just why they decided to become a teacher.
Students show up with different needs.
Some students come to school hungry. Some arrive heartbroken. Some face abuse and neglect.
Teachers aren’t just teachers anymore. Sometimes they’re the only stable thing in a kid’s life.
Nine-year-old Parker Williams absolutely adores his third-grade teacher, Mrs. Chambers. The tow-headed little boy attends Gorrie Elementary in Tampa, Fla.
So when Parker delightedly received cash for his birthday, he decided not to splurge on himself. No new toy or game for this boy.
Instead, the kindhearted and compassionate kid decided to pay forward the kindness his teacher Mary Hall Chambers has shown him so far this school year.
He attempted to give her a raise.
Parker told WFLA News:
“Well, I think she’s a really kind teacher, and she has her own way of teaching, and she spends time on everybody. I think more people should be nice. It’s just a better thing to do than being mean.”
Parker shocked Mrs. Chambers when he arrived at school with a thank you note for being his role model.
His $15 birthday money was inside.
“Dear Mrs. Chambers: I don’t think that teachers get paid enough for what they do, so will you accept this gift?”
Parker’s mom Jennifer knows how sweet her son is, but his generous act of compassion toward his teacher left her awestruck. She had no idea what he was up to.
“The first reaction was my eyes welling up with tears,” she recalled.
Mrs. Chambers was touched by Parker’s gesture. But, she sweetly and gently returned his $15 and explained that she couldn’t keep it.
“I can’t accept this, but appreciate the gesture, Parker. Students like you are the reason I teach.”
She said she was surprised.
“He just handed it to me and walked back to his desk, and he was just very nonchalant about it.”
Even though his raise for Mrs. Chambers was returned, Parker’s feelings weren’t hurt. In fact, the kind words she reciprocated warmed his heart.
“It made me feel really nice and good.”
Darrell Williams, Parker’s dad, shared a picture of his son’s note on Facebook where people fawned over the boy’s sweetness.
“I just got choked up on it, I showed my wife, I’m like, ‘Look at this,’ and she did the same. And so we had a great parenting moment at that point.”
Of course, comments came rolling in.
“Omg…that is the cutest thing ever. Love that Parker!” Wrote one viewer.
Another commended Darrell and Jennifer as parents of the little boy who quickly became famous for his gift.
“Great parents raise kind thoughtful kids! Great work you two!”
Yet another exclaimed how Parker was setting an example more kids should strive for.
“That’s awesome! We need more kids like Parker in this world!”
No doubt he’s right. If the world were filled with people like parker, it would be a much more pleasant place to live.
See what Parker has to say about it in the video below!
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