The reason one teacher has kept an empty chair in his classroom for 50 years

There is an empty seat in the center of Dan Gill's class at Glenfield Middle School.

It isn't a time out chair or a chair for an administrator to come and observe the class. There is an empty chair. There is a reminder to the students.

Gill teaches lessons about the Civil Rights movement on King's birthday. The students were connected in a personal way.

He said that he and Archie went to Gill's birthday party when he was nine. The two boys rang the bell after receiving gifts. The mother looked at Archie and said there weren't any more chairs. Gill said he would sit on the floor or get more chairs. There weren't any more chairs, the woman said. Archie was not welcome because he was black. Both boys left crying.

For more than 60 years, it has remained with Gill.

Gill said that they needed to be a class of opportunity. Archie wasn't allowed to go to the party because of the woman's bias.

The experience of Archie and the birthday party made Gill think about where he is today.

The teacher for more than 50 years helped integrate the school. After teaching in New York City, he moved to New Jersey to teach at Glenfield Middle School, which became a Magnet school for the arts. The school was a model for others.

There is still more to be done.

Gill said that kids work well with symbols because they remind them that they can do better academically, socially, and emotionally.

The handshake teacher in the video shared a message for parents.

When visitors come to the classroom and the kids ask the newcomer, "Do you know why we have that chair?", he knows his message is gaining traction.

Gill said that they own that piece.

He plans to retire from teaching after the 2022-23 school year. Gill is going to do a second act, and spread the message of the empty chair.

Gill presented the idea of a book at the festival. Last year it was dedicated to Archie. Gill was able to locate his relatives on social media.

He wants his book to encourage teachers to keep their chairs empty.

Gill told TODAY.com that he hopes it will teach children how to be better and how to treat people better. I hope they'll make their own decisions.