d as he listens to her talk about her family (14). Miss Ferenczi wins Tommy’s loyalties during the spelling quiz. Tommy is unable to spell the word “Balcony”(41) correctly and is frustrated with the situation (41). Miss Ferenczi whispers to him that she “[doesn’t] like that word either” (42). Then she goes on to enlighten Tommy with the insightful wisdom that “if you don’t like a word, you don’t have to use it” (42). With one simple remark, Miss Ferenczi empowers Tommy and teaches him a life lesson, to keep trying or to find a different way to achieve your goal. This life lesson is learned simply because Miss Ferenczi does not correct Tommy; instead she quietly steers him in a different direction. Miss Ferenczi teaches reading from the book “Broad Horizons” (14), and uses every opportunity to broaden Tommy’s horizons. She not only teaches the basics, math, reading, and spelling, but Miss Ferenczi includes lessons of magic and love (90) and lessons about life, death and God (94). Miss Ferenczi tells the class that she “[knows the] children like to hear these things,…and that is why I am telling you” (93). By sharing her insight on subjects beyond the normal classroom topics, Miss Ferenczi encourages Tommy to seek out information thereby broadening his horizons. When discussing Egypt, Miss Ferenczi shares her personal story of a trip to Cairo where she saw a creature that was half lion and half bird (65). Miss Ferenczi tells the class “that this monster was called a gryphon” (65). Tommy wants to believe Miss Ferenczi, but he has doubts. So, once he arrives home, he goes to the dictionary and looks up “Gryphon”(88). He is thrilled to read the definition: it’s true, there really is such a creature (88). The fact that Tommy went home and did research on his own is of great importance. Tommy is faced wi...
