Published: May 06, 2008 01:24 am         

One messy lesson in giving back

CADDO MILLS — While some area students may have used their day off to lounge around, a group of Caddo Mills Elementary School students spent their day off painting a fence for an elderly family.

“We could have just stayed home and been lazy,” explained Caddo Mills fifth grader Trenton Rohert, 11.

Instead, about a dozen students ranging in age from eight to 12 and enrolled in grades third through sixth, who are members of the Respect & Honor Society, learned what it feels like to give back.

“We saw a need and worked together,” said Tammy Willner, one of the group’s sponsors.

The goal of the organization, which is unique to Caddo Mills Elementary School, is to teach students values like respect, honor, commitment, friendship and altruism, Willner said.

“The whole thing is to reach out and give back,” she explained, noting that students are learning how to give back and not expect anything in return.

“Children don’t think work is fun,” Willner said. “This group is about changing attitudes.”

Third grader Rylee Cotten, 9, said he was having a fun time painting.

“I learned that work could be fun,” he said of his time with the group.

Fifth grader Zachary Spurgin, 11, had a slightly different reason for coming out though.

“It gets me (away from) my sisters,” he said.

For fifth grader Kaegan Drews, 11, it was his first time painting.

“It’ll take a long time,” he said surveying all the fence.

But he said it was fun.

And all the hard work is appreciated and a blessing as there is no way the her parents could have done the work, said Michelle McSpadden, the property owner’s daughter.

“It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing they’re doing,” she said. “We’re very grateful. It’s a blessing.”



For more information contact Willner at 903-527-3312.