Earn The Right

BigBlue · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:19 pm Post subject: Earn The Right

True story!

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.'

radar · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:34 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

WOW! That is a lesson in freedom! For once a teacher with a gift.

gelandangan · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

Fantastic story! That should be repeated with every group of kids.

dhc4ever · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 4:37 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

Snopes agrees.
www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp

Nice story and an effective point maker.

Suzanne · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:21 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

Makes you wanna cry, that no one suspected the slightest idea. A testament to our take-for-granted world in the US. What do they teach in civics and history class? who made the first tennis shoe?

Suz

Vince · Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2014 5:31 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

A very poignant reminder to these kids the sacrifices made by few for many. Far too many people take for granted the freedoms gained by our soldiers, sailors and airmen...not to forget our female defence members who in some respects probably sacrifice a bit more than the guys.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 2:19 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

Wow, Kudos to the teacher.

Elvis · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2014 11:26 pm Post subject: Re: Earn The Right

great story.