Story-Teller
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- Feb 22, 2009
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November 11th.
On November 11 each year, Canadians pay tribute to the men and women of our military forces who have served our country throughout our history. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month provides us all with a special opportunity to pause and to share the stories of Canada 's proud military history, to teach our children about the tragedies of war and conflict, and to demonstrate for everyone the necessity of tolerance and peace. We honor all those who have fought for Canada during times of war and conflict. We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. In particular, we honor those who are fighting today for peace in countries like Afghanistan.
Remembrance Day teaches us much about peace as well as war. Please take some time to ponder the vital way in which each of us can help create change and work to establish more peace and harmony in our communities, our place of work and our homes.
Below is a story that I wanted to share with you as we approach November 11th.
With peace,
Steve
Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School, 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) War 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.
Steve Levschuk, MAS
President
On November 11 each year, Canadians pay tribute to the men and women of our military forces who have served our country throughout our history. The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month provides us all with a special opportunity to pause and to share the stories of Canada 's proud military history, to teach our children about the tragedies of war and conflict, and to demonstrate for everyone the necessity of tolerance and peace. We honor all those who have fought for Canada during times of war and conflict. We honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. In particular, we honor those who are fighting today for peace in countries like Afghanistan.
Remembrance Day teaches us much about peace as well as war. Please take some time to ponder the vital way in which each of us can help create change and work to establish more peace and harmony in our communities, our place of work and our homes.
Below is a story that I wanted to share with you as we approach November 11th.
With peace,
Steve
Back in September, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School, 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) War 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.
Steve Levschuk, MAS
President
