Don't know if you've ever seen this.  A great lesson for all kids.

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 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.

Looking around, confused, they asked,
'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?'

She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done
to 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.... If you can read this, thank a
teacher. If you read it in English, thank a soldier.

Yes, it really is a true story..

Comments

[Miss Emu]

I have read these two stories several times and each time I become tear-ee eyed and have difficulties breathing because I know what each one means to me and know that words will never be able to express my feelings because they are so personnal.

Sometimes a tear-streaked face speaks louder than what one person can shout with words.

[Pincher]

How can I write a comment??
I'm still in tears reading Daddy's Poem....
Par for the course my friend!
You Are Awesome!!!

[Mom2corps]

Wow. I'm wrecked. What great stories! If only the rest of this country would understand. Thank you, Major, and God bless you. Keep on taking it to 'em.

[Diana]

I just wanted to thank you for the story of the teacher. I had read it before, but "lost" it somewhere in my archives. I wanted to try it in my classroom, with some modifications. If I'm allowed to do it, I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks for all you do. You are an inspiration.

[SFC H]

Hey Sir, show this to the guys for a little stress relief:

www.pptranger.blogspot.com

Hopefully it gets some laughs. make sure you catch the older ones. Keep at it, we know what you're doing.

~ SFC H

[Lazy]

I'm offering a dissenting opinion with all respect and sincerity, not to be wrong-headed just for the sake of it: this is unspeakable sentimental and jingoistic crap.

[Red]

Thank you Maj Pain. Semper Gratis