so dreams Pease and freshmen those are three
Pease and freshmen those are three
Pease and freshmen those are three things that you don’t usually put
things that you don’t usually put
things that you don’t usually put together in a sentence if you’ve ever
together in a sentence if you’ve ever
together in a sentence if you’ve ever lived with a freshman you know why I’ve
lived with a freshman you know why I’ve
lived with a freshman you know why I’ve lived sort of with about ten thousand
lived sort of with about ten thousand
lived sort of with about ten thousand freshmen over the last 20 years thank
freshmen over the last 20 years thank
freshmen over the last 20 years thank you yes and I’m here to tell yet that
you yes and I’m here to tell yet that
you yes and I’m here to tell yet that it’s possible to put these three things
it’s possible to put these three things
it’s possible to put these three things together in the same sentence you really
together in the same sentence you really
together in the same sentence you really can because I do it every day in my
can because I do it every day in my
can because I do it every day in my classroom it all started with a dream I
classroom it all started with a dream I
classroom it all started with a dream I really listen to my dreams I pay
really listen to my dreams I pay
really listen to my dreams I pay attention to them and I always ask
attention to them and I always ask
attention to them and I always ask myself after I woke up what did it mean
myself after I woke up what did it mean
myself after I woke up what did it mean many years ago I had a dream and when I
many years ago I had a dream and when I
many years ago I had a dream and when I woke up I had to ask myself what did it
woke up I had to ask myself what did it
woke up I had to ask myself what did it mean because in my dream I had to go
mean because in my dream I had to go
mean because in my dream I had to go back to high school and when I woke up I
back to high school and when I woke up I
back to high school and when I woke up I felt positive now if you knew me in high
felt positive now if you knew me in high
felt positive now if you knew me in high school you would know that it should
school you would know that it should
school you would know that it should have been a nightmare but it felt great
have been a nightmare but it felt great
have been a nightmare but it felt great and I couldn’t figure out why it felt so
and I couldn’t figure out why it felt so
and I couldn’t figure out why it felt so good so I thought about it and I asked
good so I thought about it and I asked
good so I thought about it and I asked myself the question what does this mean
myself the question what does this mean
myself the question what does this mean and I came up with an answer by the end
and I came up with an answer by the end
and I came up with an answer by the end of the day my answer was I need to be a
of the day my answer was I need to be a
of the day my answer was I need to be a teacher so at the age of 26 married with
teacher so at the age of 26 married with
teacher so at the age of 26 married with three little kids two little kids at the
three little kids two little kids at the
three little kids two little kids at the time third one came later and the fourth
time third one came later and the fourth
time third one came later and the fourth and fifth and sixth one after that
and fifth and sixth one after that
and fifth and sixth one after that I decided oh and I was working full-time
I decided oh and I was working full-time
I decided oh and I was working full-time I decided to go ahead and add college
I decided to go ahead and add college
I decided to go ahead and add college student to my list and I didn’t stop
student to my list and I didn’t stop
student to my list and I didn’t stop till I was done because of a dream a
till I was done because of a dream a
till I was done because of a dream a couple of years later as I was in my
couple of years later as I was in my
couple of years later as I was in my college years I had another dream that
college years I had another dream that
college years I had another dream that changed my life this time I was walking
changed my life this time I was walking
changed my life this time I was walking on a path outdoors by myself and I heard
on a path outdoors by myself and I heard
on a path outdoors by myself and I heard a speaker from what was like an intercom
a speaker from what was like an intercom
a speaker from what was like an intercom and the speaker said attention the end
and the speaker said attention the end
and the speaker said attention the end is near follow the appropriate
is near follow the appropriate
is near follow the appropriate instructions this is true
Hindus locate and follow the sacred cows
Hindus locate and follow the sacred cows Buddhist locate the path but stay in the
Buddhist locate the path but stay in the
Buddhist locate the path but stay in the middle Christians remain where you are
middle Christians remain where you are
middle Christians remain where you are you will ascend shortly um I have wild
you will ascend shortly um I have wild
you will ascend shortly um I have wild dreams okay
dreams okay
dreams okay and when I woke up I asked myself the
and when I woke up I asked myself the
and when I woke up I asked myself the question what does this mean like what
question what does this mean like what
question what does this mean like what could this mean
could this mean
could this mean and I thought about it I thought about
and I thought about it I thought about
and I thought about it I thought about it and all I could come up with was
it and all I could come up with was
it and all I could come up with was another question and the question was
another question and the question was
another question and the question was could everybody be right could everybody
could everybody could every religion be
could everybody could every religion be teaching its followers to follow the
teaching its followers to follow the
teaching its followers to follow the same basic path in just a culturally
same basic path in just a culturally
same basic path in just a culturally unique way and I realized that because I
unique way and I realized that because I
unique way and I realized that because I couldn’t really answer the question I
couldn’t really answer the question I
couldn’t really answer the question I was gonna have to do some more reading
was gonna have to do some more reading
was gonna have to do some more reading and some was studying and try and figure
and some was studying and try and figure
and some was studying and try and figure out the answer and so that’s when I
out the answer and so that’s when I
out the answer and so that’s when I began to really read and study the
began to really read and study the
began to really read and study the different world religions a few years
different world religions a few years
different world religions a few years later I was finally teaching at Joe
later I was finally teaching at Joe
later I was finally teaching at Joe Hanson high school yay
Hanson high school yay
Hanson high school yay go Vikings I should be wearing purple oh
go Vikings I should be wearing purple oh
go Vikings I should be wearing purple oh well and a couple of the history
well and a couple of the history
well and a couple of the history teachers came up to me and they said we
teachers came up to me and they said we
teachers came up to me and they said we have an offer for you we have an
have an offer for you we have an
have an offer for you we have an opportunity you just can’t pass up and I
opportunity you just can’t pass up and I
opportunity you just can’t pass up and I thought okay what is it they had been
thought okay what is it they had been
thought okay what is it they had been designing the nation’s first public high
designing the nation’s first public high
designing the nation’s first public high school world religions course to be
school world religions course to be
school world religions course to be required for graduation and they were
required for graduation and they were
required for graduation and they were looking for teachers at each of the high
looking for teachers at each of the high
looking for teachers at each of the high schools who were willing to take on such
schools who were willing to take on such
schools who were willing to take on such a dangerous class and I was willing I
a dangerous class and I was willing I
a dangerous class and I was willing I said yes
said yes
said yes are you kidding me this is perfect
so I have to tell you about these
so I have to tell you about these teachers that design the course if I
teachers that design the course if I
teachers that design the course if I could go back in time and be one of them
could go back in time and be one of them
could go back in time and be one of them I would but they did such a fantastic
I would but they did such a fantastic
I would but they did such a fantastic job when they designed this class they
job when they designed this class they
job when they designed this class they met with leaders of the different
met with leaders of the different
met with leaders of the different religions in Modesto the all of the
religions in Modesto the all of the
religions in Modesto the all of the different faiths and asked them how can
different faiths and asked them how can
different faiths and asked them how can we best serve you while we while we
we best serve you while we while we
we best serve you while we while we designed this course they contacted the
designed this course they contacted the
designed this course they contacted the First Amendment Center in Washington DC
First Amendment Center in Washington DC
First Amendment Center in Washington DC and they said please come to Modesto and
and they said please come to Modesto and
and they said please come to Modesto and teach us how do we teach world religions
teach us how do we teach world religions
teach us how do we teach world religions in a public high school in a
in a public high school in a
in a public high school in a constitutionally appropriate way and by
constitutionally appropriate way and by
constitutionally appropriate way and by doing all of these things they really
doing all of these things they really
doing all of these things they really prepared us well and they designed a
prepared us well and they designed a
prepared us well and they designed a fantastic class so we jumped in there
fantastic class so we jumped in there
fantastic class so we jumped in there and we started teaching and we taught
and we started teaching and we taught
and we started teaching and we taught our little hearts out the whole first
our little hearts out the whole first
our little hearts out the whole first year and we made plans to get back
year and we made plans to get back
year and we made plans to get back together at the beginning of the second
together at the beginning of the second
together at the beginning of the second year to compare notes who had had a
year to compare notes who had had a
year to compare notes who had had a problem who had had a complaint who had
problem who had had a complaint who had
problem who had had a complaint who had had a criticism how did you handle it
had a criticism how did you handle it
had a criticism how did you handle it what should we change and what we
what should we change and what we
what should we change and what we discovered when we got back together was
discovered when we got back together was
discovered when we got back together was there had been no complaints and there
there had been no complaints and there
there had been no complaints and there had been no problems because Modesto was
had been no problems because Modesto was
had been no problems because Modesto was just that kind of place so we decided
just that kind of place so we decided
just that kind of place so we decided since what we had done was so awesome we
since what we had done was so awesome we
since what we had done was so awesome we were just gonna jump right back out
were just gonna jump right back out
were just gonna jump right back out there the second year and do it exactly
there the second year and do it exactly
there the second year and do it exactly the same way and so we all screwed to
the same way and so we all screwed to
the same way and so we all screwed to our high schools and we prepared for our
our high schools and we prepared for our
our high schools and we prepared for our second year and the first day of school
second year and the first day of school
second year and the first day of school of that second year was on September 4th
of that second year was on September 4th
of that second year was on September 4th 2001 yep one week later with September
2001 yep one week later with September
2001 yep one week later with September 11th and that’s when we thought okay
11th and that’s when we thought okay
11th and that’s when we thought okay that first year was just a really
that first year was just a really
that first year was just a really serious dress rehearsal and the real
serious dress rehearsal and the real
serious dress rehearsal and the real work is now so we got back together as a
work is now so we got back together as a
work is now so we got back together as a group and we said what do we do how do
group and we said what do we do how do
group and we said what do we do how do we change the course the climate was so
we change the course the climate was so
we change the course the climate was so bad how can we keep this there was still
bad how can we keep this there was still
bad how can we keep this there was still a baby we wanted to make sure it stayed
a baby we wanted to make sure it stayed
a baby we wanted to make sure it stayed alive and we decided that we would do
alive and we decided that we would do
alive and we decided that we would do nothing differently that we had done a
nothing differently that we had done a
nothing differently that we had done a good job and then we would do the same
good job and then we would do the same
good job and then we would do the same way most importantly we
way most importantly we
way most importantly we make sure that we taught our students to
make sure that we taught our students to
make sure that we taught our students to look beyond our differences to see past
look beyond our differences to see past
look beyond our differences to see past our prejudice and to focus on our common
our prejudice and to focus on our common
our prejudice and to focus on our common ground just like the year before we
ground just like the year before we
ground just like the year before we would use the golden rule to guide us
would use the golden rule to guide us
would use the golden rule to guide us from one religion to the next because
from one religion to the next because
from one religion to the next because all religions teach that we should treat
all religions teach that we should treat
all religions teach that we should treat each other the way we want to be treated
each other the way we want to be treated
each other the way we want to be treated they do if we could just teach our
they do if we could just teach our
they do if we could just teach our students to replace ignorant with wisdom
students to replace ignorant with wisdom
students to replace ignorant with wisdom and let that wisdom ease their fears
and let that wisdom ease their fears
and let that wisdom ease their fears then peace is possible it is so we went
then peace is possible it is so we went
then peace is possible it is so we went back to the classroom the second year
back to the classroom the second year
back to the classroom the second year and we did the same thing and we ended
and we did the same thing and we ended
and we did the same thing and we ended the second year the way we ended the
the second year the way we ended the
the second year the way we ended the first year with no complaints and no
first year with no complaints and no
first year with no complaints and no problems and every year since then for
problems and every year since then for
problems and every year since then for the past 17 years no complaints no
the past 17 years no complaints no
the past 17 years no complaints no problems I shouldn’t be knocking on wood
problems I shouldn’t be knocking on wood
problems I shouldn’t be knocking on wood right now somewhere
teach not preaches our motto in this
teach not preaches our motto in this class this came up for me when I was a
class this came up for me when I was a
class this came up for me when I was a few years ago when I had a student come
few years ago when I had a student come
few years ago when I had a student come up to me and she had a little bit not a
up to me and she had a little bit not a
up to me and she had a little bit not a complaint she had a concern she was a
complaint she had a concern she was a
complaint she had a concern she was a senior new to the school so she didn’t
senior new to the school so she didn’t
senior new to the school so she didn’t take the class as a freshman and she
take the class as a freshman and she
take the class as a freshman and she said I don’t want to take this class I
said I don’t want to take this class I
said I don’t want to take this class I could understand that who wants to be a
could understand that who wants to be a
could understand that who wants to be a senior with a bunch of freshmen they’re
senior with a bunch of freshmen they’re
senior with a bunch of freshmen they’re really something else and so we talked
really something else and so we talked
really something else and so we talked about it privately and I said I’m really
about it privately and I said I’m really
about it privately and I said I’m really sorry but you have to take this class
sorry but you have to take this class
sorry but you have to take this class that’s required for graduation she said
that’s required for graduation she said
that’s required for graduation she said you don’t understand I’m an atheist
you don’t understand I’m an atheist
you don’t understand I’m an atheist and I don’t want to learn about the
and I don’t want to learn about the
and I don’t want to learn about the world’s religions and I said ah here we
world’s religions and I said ah here we
world’s religions and I said ah here we go finally I get to use my tools to
go finally I get to use my tools to
go finally I get to use my tools to defend the class cuz no one had ever
defend the class cuz no one had ever
defend the class cuz no one had ever challenged it before for me so I said we
challenged it before for me so I said we
challenged it before for me so I said we teach the preached our goal here is to
teach the preached our goal here is to
teach the preached our goal here is to educate you to replace your ignorant
educate you to replace your ignorant
educate you to replace your ignorant with wisdom hey true
with wisdom hey true
with wisdom hey true I said if you can just go out there into
I said if you can just go out there into
I said if you can just go out there into the world with this new this new
the world with this new this new
the world with this new this new knowledge about other religions I
knowledge about other religions I
knowledge about other religions I promise you you are going to get along
promise you you are going to get along
promise you you are going to get along with people better you’re gonna
with people better you’re gonna
with people better you’re gonna understand them and what they think and
understand them and what they think and
understand them and what they think and what’s important to them and you’ll be
what’s important to them and you’ll be
what’s important to them and you’ll be glad she agreed she stuck around didn’t
glad she agreed she stuck around didn’t
glad she agreed she stuck around didn’t really have a choice it is required for
really have a choice it is required for
really have a choice it is required for graduation and she did well and when she
graduation and she did well and when she
graduation and she did well and when she and then she graduated and then she came
and then she graduated and then she came
and then she graduated and then she came back a couple years later which
back a couple years later which
back a couple years later which surprised me and I think back to school
surprised me and I think back to school
surprised me and I think back to school night she popped in her head and said
night she popped in her head and said
night she popped in her head and said hey just I just wanted to tell you I
hey just I just wanted to tell you I
hey just I just wanted to tell you I loved your class and I miss it and I
loved your class and I miss it and I
loved your class and I miss it and I really did appreciate what you taught me
really did appreciate what you taught me
really did appreciate what you taught me so when you get things like that happen
so when you get things like that happen
so when you get things like that happen you realize that this course is there
you realize that this course is there
you realize that this course is there for a reason
for a reason
for a reason another important very important point
another important very important point
another important very important point that we teach in our religion class is
that we teach in our religion class is
that we teach in our religion class is that in the Constitution the First
that in the Constitution the First
that in the Constitution the First Amendment if you know you’ve heard of it
Amendment if you know you’ve heard of it
Amendment if you know you’ve heard of it the first part of the First Amendment
the first part of the First Amendment
the first part of the First Amendment says that Congress shall make no law
says that Congress shall make no law
says that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a
respecting the establishment of a
respecting the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free
religion or prohibiting the free
religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof if you handed somebody
exercise thereof if you handed somebody
exercise thereof if you handed somebody a copy of the Constitution and said read
a copy of the Constitution and said read
a copy of the Constitution and said read this this is what’s important to us
this this is what’s important to us
this this is what’s important to us those are the first words that they’re
those are the first words that they’re
those are the first words that they’re gonna see that’s how important this idea
gonna see that’s how important this idea
gonna see that’s how important this idea of freedom of religion is to us and I
of freedom of religion is to us and I
of freedom of religion is to us and I make sure that my students understand
make sure that my students understand
make sure that my students understand that I tell them that they have the
that I tell them that they have the
that I tell them that they have the right because of the rights guaranteed
right because of the rights guaranteed
right because of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution they have the right
by the Constitution they have the right
by the Constitution they have the right to choose their religion or none at all
to choose their religion or none at all
to choose their religion or none at all but they also have a responsibility to
but they also have a responsibility to
but they also have a responsibility to make sure that they protect and defend
make sure that they protect and defend
make sure that they protect and defend the rights of each other
I tell them you don’t have to like the
I tell them you don’t have to like the other person and you don’t have to agree
other person and you don’t have to agree
other person and you don’t have to agree with them nobody’s asking you to do that
with them nobody’s asking you to do that
with them nobody’s asking you to do that but if you don’t stand up for their
but if you don’t stand up for their
but if you don’t stand up for their right then what you are saying in a
right then what you are saying in a
right then what you are saying in a sense is that that right isn’t really as
sense is that that right isn’t really as
sense is that that right isn’t really as valuable as we say it is and you have to
valuable as we say it is and you have to
valuable as we say it is and you have to stand up for each other we were in this
stand up for each other we were in this
stand up for each other we were in this together so a few years ago I was
together so a few years ago I was
together so a few years ago I was shopping at a store and this man
shopping at a store and this man
shopping at a store and this man full-grown man came up to me and said
full-grown man came up to me and said
full-grown man came up to me and said hey I had you as a freshman like right
hey I had you as a freshman like right
hey I had you as a freshman like right you remember me like no no too many and
you remember me like no no too many and
you remember me like no no too many and plus he was probably this tall right he
plus he was probably this tall right he
plus he was probably this tall right he said I remember everything you taught me
said I remember everything you taught me
said I remember everything you taught me and I said oh come on there’s no way and
and I said oh come on there’s no way and
and I said oh come on there’s no way and he said oh I do and then he told me
he said oh I do and then he told me
he said oh I do and then he told me about a party that he went to a family
about a party that he went to a family
about a party that he went to a family party where some relatives were speaking
party where some relatives were speaking
party where some relatives were speaking about Hinduism in a rude and an
about Hinduism in a rude and an
about Hinduism in a rude and an incorrect way and he said I heard them
incorrect way and he said I heard them
incorrect way and he said I heard them and I knew that what they were saying
and I knew that what they were saying
and I knew that what they were saying was wrong and I knew I had to say
was wrong and I knew I had to say
was wrong and I knew I had to say something so he went to his family
something so he went to his family
something so he went to his family members he replaced their ignorance with
members he replaced their ignorance with
members he replaced their ignorance with wisdom and he said I felt like I had
wisdom and he said I felt like I had
wisdom and he said I felt like I had done the right thing and I said you did
done the right thing and I said you did
done the right thing and I said you did very good excellent and when something
very good excellent and when something
very good excellent and when something like that happens when you hear that
like that happens when you hear that
like that happens when you hear that years later it’s still there then you
years later it’s still there then you
years later it’s still there then you know that you’re doing something good a
know that you’re doing something good a
know that you’re doing something good a lot of people would say that this is
lot of people would say that this is
lot of people would say that this is proof of tolerance but I don’t really
proof of tolerance but I don’t really
proof of tolerance but I don’t really like the word tolerance and I know I’m
like the word tolerance and I know I’m
like the word tolerance and I know I’m supposed to because that’s one of those
supposed to because that’s one of those
supposed to because that’s one of those words that you hear a lot in these kind
words that you hear a lot in these kind
words that you hear a lot in these kind of conversations tolerance teaching
of conversations tolerance teaching
of conversations tolerance teaching tolerance and and and for some reason
tolerance and and and for some reason
tolerance and and and for some reason it’s always kind of stuck wrong with me
it’s always kind of stuck wrong with me
it’s always kind of stuck wrong with me and so I decided to look it up right go
and so I decided to look it up right go
and so I decided to look it up right go to the dictionary when you don’t know
to the dictionary when you don’t know
to the dictionary when you don’t know anything and when I looked it up I saw
anything and when I looked it up I saw
anything and when I looked it up I saw that the definition for tolerance is the
that the definition for tolerance is the
that the definition for tolerance is the capacity
capacity
capacity to endure pain or hardship well no
to endure pain or hardship well no
to endure pain or hardship well no wonder I don’t like that I don’t like
wonder I don’t like that I don’t like
wonder I don’t like that I don’t like pain or hardship and if I have to endure
pain or hardship and if I have to endure
pain or hardship and if I have to endure it I want it to be over as quickly as I
it I want it to be over as quickly as I
it I want it to be over as quickly as I can
can
can so I don’t teach tolerance I thought
so I don’t teach tolerance I thought
so I don’t teach tolerance I thought what’s better than tolerance well I like
what’s better than tolerance well I like
what’s better than tolerance well I like respect it’s the only rule I have in my
respect it’s the only rule I have in my
respect it’s the only rule I have in my class I say you know a lot of teachers
class I say you know a lot of teachers
class I say you know a lot of teachers have a whole list of rules what you can
have a whole list of rules what you can
have a whole list of rules what you can and can’t do I’ve minor easy respect
and can’t do I’ve minor easy respect
and can’t do I’ve minor easy respect okay just respect each other respect me
okay just respect each other respect me
okay just respect each other respect me respect the building we’re good and as
respect the building we’re good and as
respect the building we’re good and as much as I like respect every now and
much as I like respect every now and
much as I like respect every now and then I would like to take it even a
then I would like to take it even a
then I would like to take it even a little further because I like a party
little further because I like a party
little further because I like a party and if you know me you know that I will
and if you know me you know that I will
and if you know me you know that I will have a party for anything so can we take
have a party for anything so can we take
have a party for anything so can we take this to the next level how about we
this to the next level how about we
this to the next level how about we learn to celebrate each other and the
learn to celebrate each other and the
learn to celebrate each other and the differences that we all have
so this reminds me of a student that I
so this reminds me of a student that I had in my vet in our first year the year
had in my vet in our first year the year
had in my vet in our first year the year 2000 ELISA and ELISA came to my class a
2000 ELISA and ELISA came to my class a
2000 ELISA and ELISA came to my class a scared freshman you know they all are
scared freshman you know they all are
scared freshman you know they all are and I was you know new to that we renew
and I was you know new to that we renew
and I was you know new to that we renew that year first year of the class so I
that year first year of the class so I
that year first year of the class so I was a little scared too well what I
was a little scared too well what I
was a little scared too well what I didn’t know is that ELISA was struggling
didn’t know is that ELISA was struggling
didn’t know is that ELISA was struggling a little bit with the content you see
a little bit with the content you see
a little bit with the content you see she came to my class with a very strong
she came to my class with a very strong
she came to my class with a very strong personal faith that didn’t necessarily
personal faith that didn’t necessarily
personal faith that didn’t necessarily always encourage celebrating other
always encourage celebrating other
always encourage celebrating other religions and she worked with this she
religions and she worked with this she
religions and she worked with this she stuck with it she was brave she was kind
stuck with it she was brave she was kind
stuck with it she was brave she was kind she opened up her heart and she did well
she opened up her heart and she did well
she opened up her heart and she did well and she graduated and we remain friends
and she graduated and we remain friends
and she graduated and we remain friends to this day
to this day
to this day and many years later she explained that
and many years later she explained that
and many years later she explained that this was a struggle for her but that she
this was a struggle for her but that she
this was a struggle for her but that she was glad that the course was there to
was glad that the course was there to
was glad that the course was there to give her that little push to show her
give her that little push to show her
give her that little push to show her that you could go from that you could
that you could go from that you could
that you could go from that you could retain your own personal strong faith
retain your own personal strong faith
retain your own personal strong faith and go from tolerance to respect and
and go from tolerance to respect and
and go from tolerance to respect and even eventually learn to celebrate the
even eventually learn to celebrate the
even eventually learn to celebrate the differences in other people she’s now
differences in other people she’s now
differences in other people she’s now married with a baby girl who she’s
married with a baby girl who she’s
married with a baby girl who she’s already teaching to celebrate the
already teaching to celebrate the
already teaching to celebrate the differences in other people so well been
differences in other people so well been
differences in other people so well been ELISA
now this is ELISA is not the only
now this is ELISA is not the only example of of somebody that’s
example of of somebody that’s
example of of somebody that’s appreciative of the course there’s an
appreciative of the course there’s an
appreciative of the course there’s an entire group of people in our community
entire group of people in our community
entire group of people in our community the Sikhs Modesto well the Central
the Sikhs Modesto well the Central
the Sikhs Modesto well the Central Valley has a huge group of Sikhs a very
Valley has a huge group of Sikhs a very
Valley has a huge group of Sikhs a very large population and if you look at many
large population and if you look at many
large population and if you look at many history books you probably won’t even
history books you probably won’t even
history books you probably won’t even find Sikhism mentioned but in our course
find Sikhism mentioned but in our course
find Sikhism mentioned but in our course we teach it as one of the major
we teach it as one of the major
we teach it as one of the major religions they appreciate this they
religions they appreciate this they
religions they appreciate this they believe that it allows their children to
believe that it allows their children to
believe that it allows their children to be in the classroom to in a more
be in the classroom to in a more
be in the classroom to in a more comfortable way more accepted and
comfortable way more accepted and
comfortable way more accepted and understood and occasionally celebrated
understood and occasionally celebrated
understood and occasionally celebrated so a group of Sikhs went to their
so a group of Sikhs went to their
so a group of Sikhs went to their assembly members and they asked them is
assembly members and they asked them is
assembly members and they asked them is there anything that you can do
there anything that you can do
there anything that you can do legislatively to help encourage and
legislatively to help encourage and
legislatively to help encourage and spread this course beyond Modesto so a
spread this course beyond Modesto so a
spread this course beyond Modesto so a couple of their assembly members got
couple of their assembly members got
couple of their assembly members got together and they wrote resolution 154 I
together and they wrote resolution 154 I
together and they wrote resolution 154 I know you can’t read that’s way too small
know you can’t read that’s way too small
know you can’t read that’s way too small but I wanted to show you it really
but I wanted to show you it really
but I wanted to show you it really exists resolution 154 does two things
exists resolution 154 does two things
exists resolution 154 does two things first it applauds Modesto City Schools
first it applauds Modesto City Schools
first it applauds Modesto City Schools and the world religion class secondly
secondly and most importantly it
secondly and most importantly it encourages other districts in the state
encourages other districts in the state
encourages other districts in the state to do the same it’s not a law it’s just
to do the same it’s not a law it’s just
to do the same it’s not a law it’s just a strong suggestion but I was there the
a strong suggestion but I was there the
a strong suggestion but I was there the day along with a few of other teachers I
day along with a few of other teachers I
day along with a few of other teachers I was there up in the balcony watching
was there up in the balcony watching
was there up in the balcony watching them down below read the resolution vote
them down below read the resolution vote
them down below read the resolution vote unanimously to pass it and when they
unanimously to pass it and when they
unanimously to pass it and when they were done they said we have some
were done they said we have some
were done they said we have some teachers from Modesto here would you
teachers from Modesto here would you
teachers from Modesto here would you please stand up and we stood up and they
please stand up and we stood up and they
please stand up and we stood up and they applauded us and when we left we thought
applauded us and when we left we thought
applauded us and when we left we thought to ourselves this is it this is it
to ourselves this is it this is it
to ourselves this is it this is it finally someone else will teach this
finally someone else will teach this
finally someone else will teach this class now that’s not to say that there
class now that’s not to say that there
class now that’s not to say that there aren’t world religion classes in high
aren’t world religion classes in high
aren’t world religion classes in high schools elsewhere
schools elsewhere
schools elsewhere there are they’re scattered around the
there are they’re scattered around the
there are they’re scattered around the country here and there but their
country here and there but their
country here and there but their electives I’m talking about a required
electives I’m talking about a required
electives I’m talking about a required course that the entire district takes on
course that the entire district takes on
course that the entire district takes on we’re still the only one and this was in
we’re still the only one and this was in
we’re still the only one and this was in 2014 but I’m hopeful that someday it’ll
2014 but I’m hopeful that someday it’ll
2014 but I’m hopeful that someday it’ll spread further every new school year I
spread further every new school year I
spread further every new school year I take a moment and I pause and I think
take a moment and I pause and I think
take a moment and I pause and I think about what we’ve accomplished and I
about what we’ve accomplished and I
about what we’ve accomplished and I think about what we have left to do I am
think about what we have left to do I am
think about what we have left to do I am very aware that as the teacher of a
very aware that as the teacher of a
very aware that as the teacher of a unique course that I play a very
unique course that I play a very
unique course that I play a very delicate role in the lives of my
delicate role in the lives of my
delicate role in the lives of my students and I tell them yes math and
students and I tell them yes math and
students and I tell them yes math and science and English are all very
science and English are all very
science and English are all very important
but if we don’t all learn to get along a
but if we don’t all learn to get along a little bit better it won’t matter I
little bit better it won’t matter I
little bit better it won’t matter I expect my students to go out into the
expect my students to go out into the
expect my students to go out into the world and make it a safer and a happier
world and make it a safer and a happier
world and make it a safer and a happier and a more loving place I believe that
and a more loving place I believe that
and a more loving place I believe that human beings have a great capacity for
human beings have a great capacity for
human beings have a great capacity for love and hate but I believe that love is
love and hate but I believe that love is
love and hate but I believe that love is the natural state
the natural state
the natural state I believe that hate comes from fear and
I believe that hate comes from fear and
I believe that hate comes from fear and that fear comes from ignorance and if
that fear comes from ignorance and if
that fear comes from ignorance and if you can replace that ignorance with
you can replace that ignorance with
you can replace that ignorance with wisdom then peace is possible
I honestly don’t believe this is
I honestly don’t believe this is impossible to do I don’t believe it’s a
impossible to do I don’t believe it’s a
impossible to do I don’t believe it’s a fantasy and I’m coming to believe that
fantasy and I’m coming to believe that
fantasy and I’m coming to believe that it isn’t even really a dream that if we
it isn’t even really a dream that if we
it isn’t even really a dream that if we all just really work together and pull
all just really work together and pull
all just really work together and pull ourselves up and be everything that we
ourselves up and be everything that we
ourselves up and be everything that we can be then we can make this dream a
can be then we can make this dream a
can be then we can make this dream a reality thank you
reality thank you
reality thank you [Applause]
”
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