A lesson that should be taught in all schools ... And colleges!

  • August 31, 2010 6:31 AM PDT
    A lesson that should be taught in all schools ... And colleges! 

    Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a school 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 out of her classroom. 

    When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. 

    'Ms. Cothren, where're 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. 

    By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms.Cothren's classroom 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/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 uniforms, 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. 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. 

    Please consider passing this along so others won't forget that the freedoms we have in this great country were earned by U. S. Veterans.
    Martha Cothren taught US Military History.
    • 1780 posts
    August 31, 2010 6:34 AM PDT
    I've seen this before, but everytimg I read it, it makes me proud to be an American Military Vet.
    Thanks TACO for the post!
    Night Dragon
  • August 31, 2010 6:40 AM PDT
    nightdragon wrote...
    I've seen this before, but everytimg I read it, it makes me proud to be an American Military Vet.
    Thanks TACO for the post!
    Night Dragon



    Thank you brother ND

  • August 31, 2010 7:12 AM PDT
    as a veteran this story put a smile on my face and in my heart god bless the USA
  • August 31, 2010 7:15 AM PDT
    You bet ya!!!!! Thanks all who served!!
    • Moderator
    • 1516 posts
    August 31, 2010 7:19 AM PDT
    You are on a roll today Taco, keep it up.. these are great posts!!
    • 601 posts
    August 31, 2010 7:47 AM PDT
    nice read Taco, I was waiting for a sting in the tail, like the lady got fired or something, fair dues to the girl I wish teachers all round the world were as patriotic as her.
    • 1161 posts
    August 31, 2010 8:03 AM PDT
    Never seen this before it makes me proud to be an American Military Vet.
    Thanks TACO for the post! 
    • Moderator
    • 19067 posts
    August 31, 2010 8:06 AM PDT
    WOW Goose Bumps all over. Thanks Taco, never heard it before but you can bet I will remember it!
  • August 31, 2010 9:27 AM PDT
    Seakers wrote...
    Never seen this before it makes me proud to be an American Military Vet.
    Thanks TACO for the post! 



    Roger that!
    • 223 posts
    August 31, 2010 10:12 AM PDT
    Great post, do you have a link so I can put it on my other sites??

    Thanks for sharing it!!!