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Hundreds of students showed their appreciation for a popular high-school teacher by singing songs to him outside his house as he battles cancer.
Ben Ellis, a latin teacher at Christ Presbyternian Academy in Nashville, stood at his window to take in the tribute from 400 students and staff.
The moment was posted on Facebook by the country singer Tim McGraw - who was sent the clip by a friend - and it has since gone viral with the video being viewed more than 20 million times and shared more than 380,000 times.
“Ben Ellis is a Nashville area high school teacher battling cancer,” McGraw wrote. “The entire student body (400+ students plus HS faculty) drove to his house to worship with him. Our thoughts and Prayers are with him and his family..... So precious and kind.
Leslie Ponder, a teacher at the school, wrote that she was “blessed to call Ben a friend”. “This was a spur of the moment decision to go.. Students were in the middle of class..some taking quizzes and tests...and dropped everything for a bigger lesson on life, love, community, compassion.”
One parent wrote: “We ALL love Mr. Ellis and his precious family. The kids were giving back to him some of the love he has given to them. He is the definition of a teacher, a role model, a servant.
“He wrote the kids a letter telling them he is even more certain now that God is Good and with us. And Ben is full of hope, joy, and peace.”
The parent also quoted from a letter she said the school principal had sent to the parents. “I wanted to give you an update on this morning’s change of schedule and chapel for the high school, as it was a bit unorthodox, but sometimes that’s just how the Holy Spirit calls us to be,” it said.
