The value of a man in uniform!

In Sep 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a history teacher at Robinson High School im in Little Rock, USA, 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 in her classroom.

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

"Ms Cothren, where are our desks?" the Children asked.

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 behaviour".

She told them, "No, it's not even your behaviour".

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

Kids 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 room.

The final period of the day came and 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 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.

Twenty seven US Veterans, all in uniform, 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 did it 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. They by their sacrifice and efforts, placed the desks here for you. 

Now, it is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. So that you have the capability to sit in them.

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. This teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of The Year for State of Arkansas in 2006.

She's the daughter of a World War II POW.

Don't forget that the freedom we have in this great country was earned by our veterans!

Let us always remember the men and women of our military and the rights they have won for us.

Tailpiece.

Got up around a half past 5, the chores and was ready by 10.

Power interruption for the entire day - from a half past 8 to to a half past 5 - because of HT line maintenance.

The evening chores.