In September of 2005, Martha Cothren, a History teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, did something her students will never forget.
On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she had all of the desks in her classroom removed.
When the first period kids entered the classroom, they discovered that there were no desks other than the teacher's. The classroom was vacant of all desks for them to sit.
"Ms. Cothren, where are our desks?" the students asked.
She replied, "You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk?"
One student said, "It’s our grades."
"No," she said.
"Our behavior." said another student.
Martha Cothren told them, "No, it’s not even your behavior."
She replied, "You can’t have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk?"
One student said, "It’s our grades."
"No," she said.
"Our behavior." said another student.
Martha Cothren told them, "No, it’s not even your behavior."
And so, the students came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.
The students 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 classroom.
The final period of the day came and again like the other periods the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the vacant classroom.
The students 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 classroom.
The final period of the day came and again like the other periods the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the vacant classroom.
Finally Martha Cothren explained why there were no desks on their first day of class. She 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.
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. One by one the Vets began placing the school desks in rows. After each had positioned a desk, they would then walk over and stand at alongside a wall in the classroom.
By the time the last Veteran 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.
But if they didn't get it, this was one teacher who would make sure they do.
Martha Cothren informed the class, "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."
But if they didn't get it, this was one teacher who would make sure they do.
Martha Cothren informed the class, "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."
This is a true story. I first heard about this in an e-mail. I checked it out and found out that it really took place.
Martha Cothren is the daughter of a World War II POW and regularly has veterans visit her classroom. It's one of the ways she teaches her course on the history of WorldWar II and the Vietnam War. Besides teaching events and dates, she teaches an appreciation for our armed forces.
In May 2005, she and her class organized a Vietnam Veterans Recognition Week, including an official "Thank You Ceremony" held in the Joe T. Robinson High School auditorium.
Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Iraq War attended, as did the students, parents and the community in general, all to honor those who had served. During that week, students videotaped veterans as they recounted their war memories, thus preserving their stories for later generations.
Martha Cothren and her students have sent numerous care packages to U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also write letters to soldiers. In recognition for her great works, Martha Cothren was voted "Teacher of the Year" by the VFW in 2006.
In his March 2nd, 2007 address to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC., former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee related the story, the lesson, Martha Cothren taught her students.
At the 2008 Republican National Convention, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee again referenced Martha Cothren and the story of what she did.
I first heard about this in an e-mail. I checked it out and found out that it really took place. Most all of the information above has been compiled from different sources,
Martha Cothren and her students have sent numerous care packages to U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also write letters to soldiers. In recognition for her great works, Martha Cothren was voted "Teacher of the Year" by the VFW in 2006.
In his March 2nd, 2007 address to the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC., former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee related the story, the lesson, Martha Cothren taught her students.
In his speech, he recounted what took place on that first day of classes in Fall of 2005 for students enrolled in Martha Cothren's history class at Joe T. Robinson High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
He said, "Martha Cothren's classroom was indeed devoid of desks on that first day of instruction, with the missing furniture borne in at the end of the day by a group of veterans. Each veteran carried a desk and set it down as the teacher gave her lesson on the cost of things taken for granted and the debt owed to those in the armed forces."At the 2008 Republican National Convention, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee again referenced Martha Cothren and the story of what she did.
I first heard about this in an e-mail. I checked it out and found out that it really took place. Most all of the information above has been compiled from different sources,
In a time when there are some teachers who would rather teach their students to stomp on the American Flag, America needs more teachers like Martha Cothren who teach why we should love America and respect our Veterans.
All teachers should instruct their students, as former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, "on the cost of things taken for granted and the debt owed to those in the armed forces."
The above article was sent to me. I hope you didn't mind me sharing it with you.
Best Regards,
Tom Correa
All teachers should instruct their students, as former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee said, "on the cost of things taken for granted and the debt owed to those in the armed forces."
The above article was sent to me. I hope you didn't mind me sharing it with you.
Best Regards,
Tom Correa
What kind of teacher takes the desks out of the classrooms? If I were the teacher and I did that they'd fire me!
ReplyDeleteshe was a patriot with guts. they are nonexistent today. especially in the teaching profession. rather woke than american
DeleteThe article says she got permission to remove the desks.
DeleteOkay, Anonymous. Whatever you say. But MY teachers never did that! If they did, they would have lost their jobs. You don't force you students to sit on the floor when you know damn well you've got desks in the classroom! If you were my teacher, I'd drop out of school in a heartbeat just so I could sue you later on down the road. What kind of teacher thinks that taking desks out of the classroom is patriotism. It's not the kids who paid for those desks, it's the school! And that's not patriotism, that's a violation of their civil rights! You can say what you want to, but that's not how a teacher should teach. And I'd rather keep my child at home than let them go through anything like that. That is if I HAD a child which I don't! But if YOU can think of a better way, I'd like to hear it. Until then, I don't know what to tell ya. Best wishes, Benny.
ReplyDeleteYou are captured, and I'm sorry. This teacher took a risk at teaching a valuable lesson WITH the sanction of her superior. What a profound lesson learned, and so inspiring. I'm a teacher and a mother, and I approve!
DeleteI find it interesting, disappointing and disturbing that someone would verify this story before posting it and at the same time casually claim that “there are some teachers who would rather teach their students to stomp on the American flag.”
ReplyDeleteWhat teacher has done that without suffering some consequences?