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Article: Dana's gift: a teacher talks about lessons learned from an extraordinary child.(nine-year-old student)
- Article from:
- Instructor (1990)
- Article date:
- January 1, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1999 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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It was 1972. I was in the second year of my career, teaching the fourth grade, and very bright-eyed and idealistic. Several days after classes began, I was approached school's director of special services. She knew of a student who needed a tutor and wondered whether I was interested.
The child's name was Dana, a nine-year-old who was suffering from a cancerous brain tumor. Too sick to attend the fourth grade, she wanted a tutor to help her keep up with her schoolwork at home. Struck by the amazing courage and determination of this little girl, I took the job.
I remember vividly the first time I met with Dana at her house. Her brown hair was short and ...