Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock ,did something not to be forgotten. On the first day of school, with permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor,
she took all of the desks out of the classroom.

The kids came into first period, they walked in, there were no desks. They obviously looked around and said, "Ms. Cothren, where's our desk?"

Ms. Cothren said, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn them." They thought, "Well, maybe it's our grades."

"No," she said. "Maybe it's our behavior." And she told them, "No, it's Not even your behavior."

And so they came and went in the first period, still no desks in theclassroom. Second period, same thing, third period, no desks. By early afternoon television news crews had gathered in Ms. Cothren's class to find out about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of the classroom.

The last period of the day, Martha Cothren gathered her class. They were at this time sitting on the floor around the sides of the room. She said, "Throughout the day no one has really understood how you earn the desks " She said, "Now I'm going to tell you."

Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it, and as she did 27 US veterans, wearing their uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. And they placed those school
desks in rows, and then they stood along the wall.

And by the time they had finished placing the desks, those kids for the first time I think perhaps in their lives understood how they earned those desks.

Martha said, "You don't have to earn those desks. These guys did it for you. They put them out there for you, but it's up to you to sit here responsibly to learn, to be good students and good citizens, because they paid a price for you to have that desk, and don't ever forget it."

My friend, I think sometimes we forget that the freedoms that we have are freedoms not because of celebrities. The freedoms are because of ordinary people who did extra ordinary things, who loved this country more than
life itself, and who not only earned a school desk for a kid at the Robinson High School in Little Rock, but who earned a seat for you and me to enjoy this great land we call home, this wonderful nation that we better love enough to protect and preserve with the kind of conservative, solid values and principles that made us a great nation.

"We live in the Land of the Free because of the brave"

Remember our Troops.

And yes it's a true story.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Veterans Return Desks
http://www.snopes.com/glurge/nodesks.asp

lets keep those who are earning us our seats in our prayers through the holiday season..........

 

My wife is a teacher and I'm in the military. That one was definately emailed to her.

 

The most unusuall thing is the whole story to me is a Teacher who is NOT a liberal. I know, not all teachers fit that profile, but the academia does not like these teachers.

It is truly refreshing to hear of a teacher who is truly trying to teach, not indocternate.

DuaneW.

 

That was very enjoyable to read. My mother and I were having the discusion the other day of people who fail to appriciate what great freedoms they have in our country. I especialy like the part about celebrities in that article. Being a young person of only 23 I have seen alot already to make me appriciate my life here in the United States. I just wish many of the young adults my age felt the same. Including my girlfriend.

Great story, I will be sending out many emails today!

 

ChrisR, great post, thanks for putting it up. I will be passing it on. Like the saying goes, "if you can read and write English thank a teacher, if you are speaking English, thank a veteran!"

 

That was awsome, I sent that to all people I know

 

Chris, I had completely forgotten about that day!!
I was one of the 27. All branches (even the Coasties) were represented. It was not just those of us who had served in Vietnam, but WW2 through OIF. There wasn't many dry eyes in the group. After relating some of our experiences, both the good and bad, I had one of the kids come up and give me a big hug and said "Welcome home. I want to apologize for the actions of my parents generation" It was the best homecoming I ever had.

rememberingandwipingthetearssoIcanseethescreenShor tround out

 

I have goosebumps, and I don't spook easy!

and to see that Bruce was there, made this even better- i just finished reading these events to my husband. he was impressed and amazed, "God Bless that teacher , those kids will remember that all their lives"!

I have to agree about academia, the instituition fawns upon itself. liberal and untouchable is a general theme. i do Court hearings on Special education, administrative responsibilities, and pre trial issues that may be settled with mediation, arbitration or just an off the record face to face.
over 300 cases and I can do no more as my unbiased opinion is tainted.
(or i have a bad attitude now) I will remember the ones that truly teach and tell it like it is! high school students can tell you who those are. they make a difference.

gonna have to google this lady and see if she is still teaching...

THANKS CHRISR...and of course, YOU Bruce! (someone help you carry that desk? old fart..) j/k......wow, made my day!

 

Bruce, thats awesome... my little sis is working on her PHD in elemntary education and sent me that....

 

That was great Chris!
I've sent it on to all my personal list, with a note to follow the snopes link and read "the rest of the story".
Bruce, that had to be a memorable event for you too.