The Frozen Teacher

After I picked up Troy this afternoon, he wanted to go see the egrets and walk around campus a little. Near my wife’s old building there is a statue of Dr. Donald Seldin, who worked as the chair of medicine and has often been referred to as the “intellectual father of UT Southwestern Medical Center.” He transformed the school from a dilapidated barracks to a world-renowned medical center. The statue depicts Dr. Seldin standing at a chalk board teaching a class. Situated in front of him are a circle of empty benches.

Troy: “Who’s that guy, dada?”

Me: “That’s Dr. Seldin. He’s a teacher.”

Troy: “Why is he a statue?”

Me: “Well, legend says that he used to be alive, but then a magic spell was cast on him, and he was turned into a statue. He can only come alive again when he has students to listen and learn from him. Sadly, there’s no more students. Everyone just walks by his statue, and he’s forgotten. So, he stands there night and day…alone…with bird poop on his head.”

Troy [sitting down on a bench]: “I’m going to help him. I’ll listen to him.”

…

Nothing happens.

…

Troy: “It’s not working, dada. Why is it not working?”

Me: “I don’t know, bud. Maybe he needs more than one student to break the spell.”

Troy: “Come sit with me, dada. We have to help him.”

Me [sitting down]: “Okay, we’ll give it a shot.”

Troy: “Oh, I think I saw him move, dada! Did you see it?!”

Me: “I think so.”

Troy: “Look, he did it again! We helped him, dada! Now, can we go see the fish?”

Me: “Sure, bud.”