A teacher at Glenfield Middle School in Montclair, N.J., kept an empty chair in his classroom and had a meaningful reason behind it.
Dan Gill, 75, had taught for 52 years and for more than 30 years had kept an empty chair in his classroom. The story behind it inspired and reminded many of his students of the importance of empathy and how privileged some are, while some are not.
When he was 9 years old, Gill and his friend Archie Shaw went to a birthday party for their friend. They were stopped at the door by the mother, who looked disapprovingly at Archie because he was a Black boy. She told them that there were no more chairs and only Gill could come in.
“I can still see this woman’s face,” he said, adding that he offered to sit on the floor and give Archie his seat. “She said: ‘No, you don’t understand. There are not enough chairs.’ ”
Realizing what was happening, Gill felt so bad that his best friend was humiliated for his skin color. The two friends left their presents and left the place with tears in their eyes, feeling confused and hurt.
“I felt so bad because he had been humiliated,” Gill said. “We gave her the presents and I said we were going to go to my house, where there are plenty of chairs.”
He started the tradition of telling this story to his students every year on Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. As a reminder of how important the day was and what it meant in the lives of others who are victims of racial discrimination and how they are supposed to confront racism.
Realizing that kids learn very well through the use of metaphors, Gill began placing the chair in the classroom 30 years earlier. He explained that the chair embodied “the idea of opportunity; it’s the idea of welcoming; it’s the idea of treating people with respect.”
Over the years, the story and the chair have resonated with many of the students in the school, which he often shared in schoolwide assemblies.
Erika Pierce, the principal of Glenfield said, “The chair really speaks to his educational philosophy about inclusion and making sure that everyone feels that they have a place and a space, and that they’re valued.”
Dan also secured a publishing contract for a book titled ‘No More Chairs’ by winning an impromptu book pitch at the Montclair Literary Festival. He dedicated the book to his friend Archie Shaw, who passed away several years ago.
He was also awarded $1000 from Pilot Pen for his great work as a teacher.
“It’s wonderful to be able to share this meaningful story that can touch other people and motivate them to open up their hearts,” Gill said.
WATCH: Why This Teacher Kept an Empty Chair in His Classroom for 30 Years Will Move You
