I, like this teacher believe that lessons should be
taught in all schools . . and colleges.
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.
'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 deskless 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 has been verified as a true story.
COMMENT :
As Indians get ready to observe the first year
of a grissly terrorist attack on their soil on
26th November last year, this story, although
set against an American background, brings
this very important point home
That there are people who are fighting selflessly
so we can enjoy Life with all its rights and
freedoms .... Remember How at this time last year
politicians and rabble rousers were so quiet,
not daring to say anything lest they become the
target of the common Man's wrath ...
Consider passing this along so others won't forget
that the freedoms we have in this great country
were earned by the blood and sweat and toil of
selfless leaders and soldiers past and present ...
Let no leader try to divide us on the basis of
language, caste, creed and religion ....
Let us not lose our right by being mute witnesses
Rather, let us give them a resounding slap that
will echo in their minds for years and generations
to come ...
Be vigilant, Be Alert,
Use your rights or lose them ...
JAI HIND
