TEACHERBy Helen Keller

How important is a teacher to you? Does your teacher reach out to you in whatever way he or she can?

Helen Keller Helen Adams

Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.

She was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on 27th June, 1880. Her father, Arthur H. Keller, was the editor for the North Alabamian, and had fought in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War

At 19 months she suffered "an acute congestion of the stomach and brain (probably scarlet fever) which left her deaf and blind. Helen was a very bright child. She became very frustrated because she couldn't talk. She became very angry and began to throw temper tantrums. The family knew they had to do something to help her.

The most important day she remember in all her life is the one on which her teacher, Anne Mansfield Sullivan, came to her. She was filled with wonder when she consider the immeasurable contrasts between the two lives which it connects.

On the afternoon of that eventful day, she stood on the porch, wondering, expectant and she guessed that something unusual was about to happen, so she went to the door and waited on the steps. She did not know what future held of marvel or surprise for her.

She was like the ship at sea in a dense fog, when it seemed as if darkness shut you in, and you waited with beating heart for something to happen. ”Light! Give me light!” was the wordless cry of her soul, and the light of love shone. She felt approaching footsteps.

The morning after her teacher came, she lead her into her room and gave her a doll. Miss Sullivan slowly spelled into her hand the word “ d-o-l-l.” She was at once interested in this finger play and tried to imitate it.

In the days that followed, she learned to spell in this uncomprehending way a great many words. But her teacher had been with her several weeks before she understood that everything has a name.

Earlier in the day they had a tussle over the words “m-u-g” and “w-a-t-e-r.” Miss Sullivan had tried to impress upon her that “m-u-g” is mug and that “w-a-t-e-r” is water, but she persisted in confounding the two. She became impatient at her repeated attempts.

In the still, dark world in which she lived there was no strong sentiment or tenderness. She felt her teacher sweep the fragments to one side of the heart, and she had a sense of satisfaction that the cause of her discomfort removed.

They walked down the path to the well-house, attracted by the honeysuckle with which it was covered. Someone was drawing water and her teacher placed her hand under the spout. As the cool stream gushed over one hand she spelled into the other word water, first slowly, then rapidly.

Suddenly Helen felt a misty consciousness as of something forgotten-a thrill of returning thought; and somehow mystery of language was revealed to her. She knew that “w-a-t-e-r” meant the wonderful cool something that was flowing over her hand.

The living world awaken her soul, gave it light, hope, joy set it free! She left the well-house eager to learn. Everything had a name, and each name gave birth to a new thought. As they returned to the house every object which she touched seemed to quiver with life.

I learned a great many words that day. I do not remember what they all were; but I do know that mother, father, sister, teacher were among them- words that were to make the world blossom to me.

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content. Helen Keller

PRESENTED BY:Jaira P. MacasiebIII- Science Class