Rauchende Colts The Fires of Ignorance (1955–1975) Online

The story involves a stubborn father that believes his son is needed more on the farm than attending school. The father, Oliver Harker (John Vernon), forces his son, Tommy, to work the farm rather than read books. In fact, when Oliver finds Tommy reading a book from school- he throws the book in the fire and tells him that reading is over.

However, Tommy returns to the school only to have his father interrupt the classroom and drag his son out of school. On the way out Oliver knocks the schoolteacher, Henry Decory (Allen Garfield), to the ground in front of all the students. Mr Decory files a assault warrant on Mr. Harker and the matter of school attendance goes to court.

The citizens of Dodge are not too happy with a Eastern schoolteacher coming into town thinking he knows what is right for all children. They feel like he is taking away the father's ability to raise his son as he sees fit. With the court hearing taking place, the Judge will give flexibility as the schoolteacher tries to show the real reason for school attendance.

This is a very well written script. With the fine script and the great acting this show held the interest of the viewer the entire time. You do have to overlook the way the court hearing took place since the court allowed the trial to go well over the charge of assault, something that would not happen in a real courtroom. But for TV sake we over look this small detail and concentrate on the overall story. And the story was a good watch.

This episode stands on its own as well written and acted. But, in a far more significant manner, it stands more relevant today than when it first aired back in 1975. At the time, the episode made strong overtures to the infamous Nazi book burning with the reference to Berlin, Germany in the classroom after the father burned a book. At the time, that was among the more poignant examples from recent history on the evils of rejecting education.

Sadly though, this episode is more relevant today due to the erosion of education in many public school systems throughout America, combined with an increase in people devaluing education in their lives and the lives of their children. Such a concept was most alien in 1975, but the story certainly hearkened back to a time when public education was devalued.

The central point is that academic excellence can reside in all people of all backgrounds, and that reality was driven home powerfully in this episode. Consequently, this story should be aired far more often than it is, simply as a means to draw peoples' attentions to the need to raise the vital importance of education throughout all of American society.

Regardless of whether education is denied through a tyranny of the state, a tyranny of misguided parents, or perhaps most tragically of all, a tyranny of one's on self, education denied or ignored remains every bit as tragic to our entire society.

This is one of the better written episodes. Allen Garfield co-stars as a school teacher in Dodge City. A father of two, boy and girl, insists that it is best for his som ends his school days early. The boy can read and write and that is all he needs, as his dad sees it. The boy still has a burning desire to learn. Despite Garfields pleas, the father will not budge. A visit to Marshal Dillon is of no help. The entire question winds up is a court room where Garfield argues for education. Garfield puts on a very strong argument in his role as teacher. Doc also stands with the teacher who is assulted by four men the night before the jury trial begins.

This is a very good episode and Allen Garfield really nails his role. Take an hour to watch this episode, it is well worth the time

This episode in the final year of the series was very well written with strong acting. Doc plays a strong roll as does teacher. This is an excellent episode. It is well worth the time to sit back and enjoy a great episode of Gunsmoke.