A beloved educator’s wish at her funeral for backpacks filled with school supplies has attracted attention as far away as Great Britain. Georgia teacher Tammy Waddell, 58, died after a long fight with stomach cancer.
In lieu of flowers, Waddell’s obituary suggested that donations be made in her memory to Project Connect, a local program that provides backpacks to needy students. A number of teachers lined up at Waddell’s funeral services, all bearing knapsacks filled with school supplies.
The story of Tammy Waddell
Battling cancer and being an educator, Tammy Waddell of Forsyth County, Georgia, requested everyone who would attend her funeral to come bearing not flowers, but backpacks with school supplies. A tweet made by Tammy’s cousin Dr. Brad Johnson had an image of several backpacks stacked with school supplies. The reason behind this unusual request is that Tammy Waddell wanted to provide needy students with the essentials.
Being an elementary school teacher for over 30 years, Tammy Waddell has been an advocate for literacy. She has always tried to give every child an equal opportunity for education and to learn. She was such an inspiring person that her dedication toward education and literacy made her son and cousin choose the same path of becoming educators.
Even as she was battling cancer, she kept on fulfilling her role as an educator. Her son Kevin Waddell said that his mother was truly a giver. She never thought about herself. Her focus was always on the well-being of her students and ensuring that every child had access to education. When she made the request, it was so touching that over 100 backpacks were collected. When Dr. Brad shared pictures of what the request was and what the backpacks contained, it touched many hearts.
The need for such educators
When people saw the tweet, they became not only emotional, but they helped her reach a greater audience. What Tammy Waddell did as a final act of service is a lesson for everyone. Being a teacher is a tough job. The system and parents who cannot afford to educate their children often are hurdles for people like Waddell. The right to education is every child’s birthright. While many schools have provisions for providing free education, the awareness of such programs is limited this results in the increasing rate of illiteracy.
Public schools are often neglected in many countries because the quality of education in those places is not satisfactory. The onus lies on the government and administration. While teachers often try their best, it becomes difficult for a teacher to manage hundreds of students daily. When students get proper guidance and can follow their dreams, they can become positive influences on society.
Brother Peter Tabichi
Another shining example is Brother Peter Tabichi, who was named the best teacher in the world. Hailing from Africa, this science teacher, who is also a Franciscan religious order member, won a global award and $1 million. He did what he had to do. He donated over 80 percent of that prize money to help children of Keriko Mixed Day Secondary School in Pwani Village, Nakuru, who cannot afford books or uniforms.
People around the world keep complaining about the need for reforms, but not many take the initiative. But, thankfully, people like Tammy Waddell and Peter Tabichi exist. They make the world a better place for they take the necessary steps to bring about those changes. They plan and can overcome hurdles to reach their goals.
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