A TEACHER WHO TEACHES SOMETHING.

[68jk09]

NOW SHE IS A TEACHER! In September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 'Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?'
She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said.

'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.'

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom. Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the desk-less classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

By the way, this is a true story. And this teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of the Year for the State of Arkansas in 2006. She is the daughter of a WWII POW.


Do you think this is worth passing along so others won't forget either, that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by our U.S. Veterans? ................... I did.

Let us always remember the men and women of our military and the rights they have won for us.

 

[FDNY793727]

That is an incredible story. Glad to hear she wasn't punished for that. That would have been awful but sadly not surprising. Someone has to teach young children that and not enough people do. I will certainly pass this along thanks for sharing.

 

[mack]

Thanks for the posting, Chief.  Unfortunately, most teachers today would resent if a Veteran came into their classroom. 

We recently had a high school principal in Massachusetts ignore reading the Pledge of Allegiance on 9-11 memorial this year.  Instead, he read a Muslim poem to promote "understanding". 

The teacher you mentioned would have been fired if she did that in Massachusetts. 

In most schools today, our children do not learn history.  They are taught about social issues and social progress associated with World War II instead of the political and historical causes, major events and consequences of a world war.

Too bad we don't have more teachers like the teacher from Arkansas - and school systems which support patriotism.

 

[grumpy grizzly]

If you do not respect and honor those individuals, male or female, who changed their lives, their ambitions and dreams, to protect and honor the work of those who went before them, then we as a society are doomed. Where will you find those whose idea of love of country is to leave us for 4 years and go to Afghanistan, Iraq, and 70 other third world countries. Someone did a great post on "Black Hawk Down". How many people would join a company that could put you in that situation. Oh yes they are firefighters, law enforcement officers and members of the military. Veterans Day is coming up, we should forget the mattress sales and maybe go to a VA hospital and just say thanx. But maybe I am preaching to the wrong people, everyone on this site has made a serious commitment to society. Just gotta vent, a vet is an individual who gives the government a blank check that says Up to and including my life!

 

[nfd2004]

Thanks for the posting, Chief.  Unfortunately, most teachers today would resent if a Veteran came into their classroom. 

We recently had a high school principal in Massachusetts ignore reading the Pledge of Allegiance on 9-11 memorial this year.  Instead, he read a Muslim poem to promote "understanding". 

The teacher you mentioned would have been fired if she did that in Massachusetts. 

In most schools today, our children do not learn history.  They are taught about social issues and social progress associated with World War II instead of the political and historical causes, major events and consequences of a world war.

Too bad we don't have more teachers like the teacher from Arkansas - and school systems which support patriotism.

"mack" unfortunately, I know what you're saying.

But where did we go wrong ? How did it happen ?

In grammer school when I went there, we ALL Pledged Allegiance to the Flag, every morning, after a prayer. Maybe the prayer thing had something to do with the fact that I went to Catholic Grammer school. But what about the Flag ? And I remember having a guest speaker from one of the Military branches talk to us at least once a year. Probably on why we should appreciate those desk that we are sitting in. When I would hear stories about the military, the guy I always thought about was my father. I would hear stories and somehow tie them to my father, who was a medic in WWII. I just couldn't relate to what he did then, but I think I have a better idea now.

  We have many members on this site who have done more than their share for this Country. They will ALWAYS have my respect. I know that it is because of them that I did have a desk to sit in during my school days. 

  I know now, it is because of THEM, that I have the Freedom that not everybody in this world can share in. I know now that some lost their limbs. Some spent months or even years in a prison and were beaten only because they were Americans. Some gave up their lives and others lost their family members. And for that, we get one teacher in the City of Little Rock, to show her students, why they can sit down behind a desk in school.

  How do we get more teachers like this one in Arkansas ? How do we get more states to think like that ? Why can't our kids Pledge Allegiance to the Flag like we used to ? Why can't they say a prayer anymore ? What changed things ? Who changed things ? It worked before, why not now ?

  To the Veterans of the U.S.A., I appreciate what you have done for me. And it's not only me, "It's every one of us". Some just don't realize it. But I'm pretty sure they appreciate what you've done.