To Educate or Not To Educate | Atanas Kondakov | TEDxYouth@AASSofia

[Music]

[Music] let’s talk about school I know you might

let’s talk about school I know you might

let’s talk about school I know you might not like the topic as some of you

not like the topic as some of you

not like the topic as some of you connected with terrible experiences and

connected with terrible experiences and

connected with terrible experiences and I just have to deal with it every day

I just have to deal with it every day

I just have to deal with it every day but how many of you have experienced

but how many of you have experienced

but how many of you have experienced Bulgarian schools show me I got quite a

Bulgarian schools show me I got quite a

Bulgarian schools show me I got quite a few of you well then then you know that

few of you well then then you know that

few of you well then then you know that the Bulgarian educational system isn’t

the Bulgarian educational system isn’t

the Bulgarian educational system isn’t the best in anyway but it is eligible

the best in anyway but it is eligible

the best in anyway but it is eligible for a change

for a change

for a change you see I’ve experienced both of our

you see I’ve experienced both of our

you see I’ve experienced both of our garyun public and private educational

garyun public and private educational

garyun public and private educational systems now I am the subject of the

systems now I am the subject of the

systems now I am the subject of the international one which is very much

international one which is very much

international one which is very much based on a Western model having said

based on a Western model having said

based on a Western model having said that I believe for this step I believe I

that I believe for this step I believe I

that I believe for this step I believe I know what the steps are for cranek a

know what the steps are for cranek a

know what the steps are for cranek a better education of future for Bulgaria

better education of future for Bulgaria

better education of future for Bulgaria but before I establish my points I’d

but before I establish my points I’d

but before I establish my points I’d like to remind some of you too about how

like to remind some of you too about how

like to remind some of you too about how stuff happens in Bulgarian schools and

stuff happens in Bulgarian schools and

stuff happens in Bulgarian schools and for those that haven’t experienced it I

for those that haven’t experienced it I

for those that haven’t experienced it I believe that’s a nice introduction so

believe that’s a nice introduction so

believe that’s a nice introduction so I’ve prepared a short story for you a

I’ve prepared a short story for you a

I’ve prepared a short story for you a lot I hope you like it students are in

lot I hope you like it students are in

lot I hope you like it students are in the cross classroom ready for class

the cross classroom ready for class

the cross classroom ready for class otherwise they will receive a bad grade

otherwise they will receive a bad grade

otherwise they will receive a bad grade they’re also acquired only otherwise

they’re also acquired only otherwise

they’re also acquired only otherwise they will receive about grade they’re

they will receive about grade they’re

they will receive about grade they’re all preparing for an eventual oral exam

all preparing for an eventual oral exam

all preparing for an eventual oral exam because they have to know all their

because they have to know all their

because they have to know all their materials by heart or they will receive

materials by heart or they will receive

materials by heart or they will receive a bad grade the teacher comes into the

a bad grade the teacher comes into the

a bad grade the teacher comes into the classroom said nothing

classroom said nothing

classroom said nothing everybody’s trust we will teach a corner

everybody’s trust we will teach a corner

everybody’s trust we will teach a corner for an eventual oral exam everybody’s

for an eventual oral exam everybody’s

for an eventual oral exam everybody’s praying to any gods and goddesses that

praying to any gods and goddesses that

praying to any gods and goddesses that might be listening nobody a lot of

might be listening nobody a lot of

might be listening nobody a lot of scatter young give up you have to face

scatter young give up you have to face

scatter young give up you have to face one of the most stressful moments in his

one of the most stressful moments in his

one of the most stressful moments in his life he’s great depends on it but so

life he’s great depends on it but so

life he’s great depends on it but so does his self-esteem if he gets a good

does his self-esteem if he gets a good

does his self-esteem if he gets a good grade everybody will laugh at him and

grade everybody will laugh at him and

grade everybody will laugh at him and they’ll call him a nerd but if he gets a

they’ll call him a nerd but if he gets a

they’ll call him a nerd but if he gets a bad grade

bad grade

bad grade laughter him again but a co human loser

laughter him again but a co human loser

laughter him again but a co human loser and he might not even want to go home

and he might not even want to go home

and he might not even want to go home so what we find choose or just even have

so what we find choose or just even have

so what we find choose or just even have a choice you see we have all these

a choice you see we have all these

a choice you see we have all these problems in our system but it’s it’s

problems in our system but it’s it’s

problems in our system but it’s it’s like we have a big road full of

like we have a big road full of

like we have a big road full of obstacles that we have to go through but

obstacles that we have to go through but

obstacles that we have to go through but what are these obstacles on this highway

what are these obstacles on this highway

what are these obstacles on this highway to a better education well first of all

to a better education well first of all

to a better education well first of all teachers now don’t get me wrong I am

teachers now don’t get me wrong I am

teachers now don’t get me wrong I am certainly not saying that our teachers

certainly not saying that our teachers

certainly not saying that our teachers about I’m just saying that due to

about I’m just saying that due to

about I’m just saying that due to various issues such as bad working

various issues such as bad working

various issues such as bad working conditions and low salaries our average

conditions and low salaries our average

conditions and low salaries our average teacher is not only unmotivated but I’m

teacher is not only unmotivated but I’m

teacher is not only unmotivated but I’m old you see statistics show that less

old you see statistics show that less

old you see statistics show that less than 3% of Bulgarian teachers are over

than 3% of Bulgarian teachers are over

than 3% of Bulgarian teachers are over the age or under the edge excuse me of

the age or under the edge excuse me of

the age or under the edge excuse me of 35 so why don’t we have younger teachers

35 so why don’t we have younger teachers

35 so why don’t we have younger teachers I mean younger teachers can solve so

I mean younger teachers can solve so

I mean younger teachers can solve so many of our systems flows first of all

many of our systems flows first of all

many of our systems flows first of all it is a well-known fact that you connect

it is a well-known fact that you connect

it is a well-known fact that you connect easily with someone closer to your age

easily with someone closer to your age

easily with someone closer to your age we have similar interests similar styles

we have similar interests similar styles

we have similar interests similar styles chitchat topics what I’m trying to say

chitchat topics what I’m trying to say

chitchat topics what I’m trying to say is that the more the age gap the

is that the more the age gap the

is that the more the age gap the friendly relationship you’re going to

friendly relationship you’re going to

friendly relationship you’re going to have with your teacher and having a

have with your teacher and having a

have with your teacher and having a teacher being your friend it’s just

teacher being your friend it’s just

teacher being your friend it’s just giving you one more experienced person

giving you one more experienced person

giving you one more experienced person to whom you can turn to for any advice

to whom you can turn to for any advice

to whom you can turn to for any advice or help or any problems you might have

or help or any problems you might have

or help or any problems you might have but talking about the students and tap

but talking about the students and tap

but talking about the students and tap problems let me present you my Yara Kiev

problems let me present you my Yara Kiev

problems let me present you my Yara Kiev education yeah so as you can see in the

education yeah so as you can see in the

education yeah so as you can see in the very bottom we have the nerds who are

very bottom we have the nerds who are

very bottom we have the nerds who are pretty much amazing in any academic

pretty much amazing in any academic

pretty much amazing in any academic subject and then we have the failures

subject and then we have the failures

subject and then we have the failures who are their complete opposite then we

who are their complete opposite then we

who are their complete opposite then we have the drugs being amazing in any

have the drugs being amazing in any

have the drugs being amazing in any support you can name and then we have

support you can name and then we have

support you can name and then we have the geeks being something like poking

the geeks being something like poking

the geeks being something like poking Wikipedia’s for their own passions like

Wikipedia’s for their own passions like

Wikipedia’s for their own passions like Lord of the Rings or minecraft or

Lord of the Rings or minecraft or

Lord of the Rings or minecraft or something and then at the very top we

something and then at the very top we

something and then at the very top we have the cool kids who whenever we can

have the cool kids who whenever we can

have the cool kids who whenever we can see them in school are mostly using the

see them in school are mostly using the

see them in school are mostly using the institution as a show off stage to show

institution as a show off stage to show

institution as a show off stage to show what are the latest toys

what are the latest toys

what are the latest toys and you see everybody depends on the

and you see everybody depends on the

and you see everybody depends on the nerds but everybody wants to be like the

nerds but everybody wants to be like the

nerds but everybody wants to be like the cool kids

cool kids

cool kids and what’s more silly is that if only

and what’s more silly is that if only

and what’s more silly is that if only one of these groups like separates from

one of these groups like separates from

one of these groups like separates from this pyramid the whole pyramid will

this pyramid the whole pyramid will

this pyramid the whole pyramid will collapse but let’s put aside the

collapse but let’s put aside the

collapse but let’s put aside the problems with members of our academic

problems with members of our academic

problems with members of our academic system and go back to the core of any

system and go back to the core of any

system and go back to the core of any act of any educational setup the methods

act of any educational setup the methods

act of any educational setup the methods of teaching you see in Bulgaria things

of teaching you see in Bulgaria things

of teaching you see in Bulgaria things happen this way you go to class you copy

happen this way you go to class you copy

happen this way you go to class you copy what a teacher who’s written for you on

what a teacher who’s written for you on

what a teacher who’s written for you on the board you you studied a lesson by

the board you you studied a lesson by

the board you you studied a lesson by heart you see you learn the theories but

heart you see you learn the theories but

heart you see you learn the theories but you don’t practice them you learn the

you don’t practice them you learn the

you don’t practice them you learn the information but you struggle with using

information but you struggle with using

information but you struggle with using the skills is trying to teach you and

the skills is trying to teach you and

the skills is trying to teach you and then we have all those oral exams and

then we have all those oral exams and

then we have all those oral exams and frequent tests which pretty much memory

frequent tests which pretty much memory

frequent tests which pretty much memory quizzes on enormous amounts of data and

quizzes on enormous amounts of data and

quizzes on enormous amounts of data and Ottis or distress reflects on us the

Ottis or distress reflects on us the

Ottis or distress reflects on us the students so much at some point some of

students so much at some point some of

students so much at some point some of us go home crying because our teacher

us go home crying because our teacher

us go home crying because our teacher told us they don’t write beautifully

told us they don’t write beautifully

told us they don’t write beautifully enough you see we have all these

enough you see we have all these

enough you see we have all these obstacles in our way but it’s not like

obstacles in our way but it’s not like

obstacles in our way but it’s not like we cannot solve them and actually the

we cannot solve them and actually the

we cannot solve them and actually the solutions were evident in pretty easy to

solutions were evident in pretty easy to

solutions were evident in pretty easy to execute first of all we need younger

execute first of all we need younger

execute first of all we need younger teachers and I’m not saying about

teachers and I’m not saying about

teachers and I’m not saying about elementary school as kids that I’m

elementary school as kids that I’m

elementary school as kids that I’m pretty excited about growing gap and

pretty excited about growing gap and

pretty excited about growing gap and learning they want to become astronauts

learning they want to become astronauts

learning they want to become astronauts policemen firemen but you see a students

policemen firemen but you see a students

policemen firemen but you see a students grow older they tend to lose focus and

grow older they tend to lose focus and

grow older they tend to lose focus and motivation about learning and although a

motivation about learning and although a

motivation about learning and although a younger teacher can really bring

younger teacher can really bring

younger teacher can really bring enthusiasm for learning back in the game

enthusiasm for learning back in the game

enthusiasm for learning back in the game they cannot continue teaching but this

they cannot continue teaching but this

they cannot continue teaching but this old hand old communist time methods of

old hand old communist time methods of

old hand old communist time methods of teaching we need a new type of state of

teaching we need a new type of state of

teaching we need a new type of state of teaching being introduced I was my

teaching being introduced I was my

teaching being introduced I was my suggestion let’s look at my current

suggestion let’s look at my current

suggestion let’s look at my current school you see here the teachers teach

school you see here the teachers teach

school you see here the teachers teach you the basics of the formula is the

you the basics of the formula is the

you the basics of the formula is the knowledge the information but they don’t

knowledge the information but they don’t

knowledge the information but they don’t stop there they they are showing you how

stop there they they are showing you how

stop there they they are showing you how to do different things and we do

to do different things and we do

to do different things and we do experiments all the time and I’m not

experiments all the time and I’m not

experiments all the time and I’m not talking only about Sciences which is

talking only about Sciences which is

talking only about Sciences which is pretty amazing by itself I’m talking

pretty amazing by itself I’m talking

pretty amazing by itself I’m talking that whatever we learn in school

that whatever we learn in school

that whatever we learn in school we’re for sure going to have to deal

we’re for sure going to have to deal

we’re for sure going to have to deal with a real-life situation at some point

with a real-life situation at some point

with a real-life situation at some point and you see one very important aspect of

and you see one very important aspect of

and you see one very important aspect of education is competition schools should

education is competition schools should

education is competition schools should provide opportunity to their students to

provide opportunity to their students to

provide opportunity to their students to grow to become better in areas they’d

grow to become better in areas they’d

grow to become better in areas they’d like what I mean is that you like a

like what I mean is that you like a

like what I mean is that you like a particular sport we go to after school

particular sport we go to after school

particular sport we go to after school practices

practices

practices you are good enos in a sport you go to a

you are good enos in a sport you go to a

you are good enos in a sport you go to a tournament with your school’s team this

tournament with your school’s team this

tournament with your school’s team this chance this opportunity is essential to

chance this opportunity is essential to

chance this opportunity is essential to the students growth and you see we go

the students growth and you see we go

the students growth and you see we go back to the title to educate or not to

back to the title to educate or not to

back to the title to educate or not to educate because that is the question

educate because that is the question

educate because that is the question that is the question we have to ask

that is the question we have to ask

that is the question we have to ask ourselves because we’re the ones who can

ourselves because we’re the ones who can

ourselves because we’re the ones who can change this we’re the ones who can put

change this we’re the ones who can put

change this we’re the ones who can put an end to examinations that can

an end to examinations that can

an end to examinations that can determine your future we’re the ones who

determine your future we’re the ones who

determine your future we’re the ones who can put an end to memory creases we’re

can put an end to memory creases we’re

can put an end to memory creases we’re the ones that can overcome each and

the ones that can overcome each and

the ones that can overcome each and every one of these obstacles so now tell

every one of these obstacles so now tell

every one of these obstacles so now tell me will you walk this path with me thank

me will you walk this path with me thank

me will you walk this path with me thank you very much

you very much

you very much [Applause]