Teacher Puts Empty Chair In Classroom To Help Students Understand Lesson About Inclusion

Jun 23, 2023 by apost team

After 52 remarkable years of teaching, Mr. Daniel Gill, a beloved figure at Glenfield Middle School in New Jersey, prepared for retirement in June 2023. But his impact on generations of students will continue to resonate long after he leaves the classroom. Among the many lessons he has imparted over the years, one stands out: the power of acceptance, which has been symbolized by the empty chair that has occupied a special place in his social studies classroom for the past three decades.

Gill's journey to acceptance began as a 9-year-old boy in the South Bronx in 1956. He vividly remembers the painful incident that would shape his perspective on life and education. Alongside his childhood best friend, Archie, who was Black, he attended a birthday party where they were met with prejudice. The party host's mother, who was white, turned Archie away, cruelly stating that they had no more chairs left for him, subtly referring to the color of his skin.

The memory of that incident, steeped in racial bias, stayed with Gill throughout his life even as he never found out what happened to Archie as they went to separate schools after their elementary graduation in 1960. This fueled Gill's commitment to combat prejudice and promote inclusivity when he became a teacher in the 1970s. 

The empty chair in his classroom became a powerful metaphor, representing the idea that there is always room for everyone. However, as Gill recounted with NJ.Com, he was not exactly sure when he started sharing the story of the empty chair with his students, but he wanted a visual aid to teach the kids about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life around the 1990s. 

For the past 30 years, Gill has shared the story of the empty chair with his students from the sixth to the eighth grade, emphasizing its message of opportunity, welcome, and respect. Over time, the chair has become a beloved symbol of acceptance in the school, with students embracing its significance. Some have even created personal tokens, like necklaces with chair pendants, to honor the lesson it represents.

“Kids learn really well through metaphors,” Gill said, per The Washington Post. "It’s been a really effective tool." 

Maggie Horn, a student who learned about the chair in 2017, said that the story had left a lasting impression on her and her peers. 

"Its message was something that could speak to sixth-graders and allow us, for the first time, to understand what it meant to be privileged, and what it meant not to be," the 16-year-old said.

The impact of Gill's teaching reaches far beyond the walls of his classroom. Former students have fond memories of the chair and its message of belonging. Emily McCarthy, now 25, said she will "always remember" the lessons of the empty chair.

Throughout his tenure at Glenfield Middle School, Gill has been an anchor within the community. He played a vital role in the school's desegregation efforts in the 1970s, and his dedication and wealth of knowledge have left an indelible mark on students, colleagues, and administrators alike.

Upon retirement, Gill has been granted an incredible opportunity to share his story on a broader scale. He won a book pitch competition at the Montclair Literary Festival, securing a publishing contract for his children's book, "No More Chairs." The book, dedicated to his friend Archie Shaw, who died in the lockdowns in 2021, will further spread the message of acceptance and inspire readers to open their hearts.

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The impact of Mr. Gill will continue to reverberate within the hearts and minds of those he has touched. What can you say about his story of acceptance and opportunity? Do you know someone who might need some positive vibes? Then pass this story along!