When Kids Learn on Broken Chairs | Michael Phillips | TEDxWilmingtonED

I would love for all of you to join me

I would love for all of you to join me in an exercise so I’m going to ask

in an exercise so I’m going to ask

in an exercise so I’m going to ask to stand up one more time all over the

to stand up one more time all over the

to stand up one more time all over the room thank you so much I need you to

room thank you so much I need you to

room thank you so much I need you to trust me on this close your eyes take a

trust me on this close your eyes take a

trust me on this close your eyes take a half and step away from your chair

you got close your eyes now no peeking

you got close your eyes now no peeking now I want you to imagine that the chair

now I want you to imagine that the chair

now I want you to imagine that the chair you were just sitting on couldn’t no

you were just sitting on couldn’t no

you were just sitting on couldn’t no longer hold you I want some of you to

longer hold you I want some of you to

longer hold you I want some of you to even imagine that the chair you were

even imagine that the chair you were

even imagine that the chair you were just sitting on it’s no longer there you

just sitting on it’s no longer there you

just sitting on it’s no longer there you have that image in your mind okay open

have that image in your mind okay open

have that image in your mind okay open your eyes

your eyes

your eyes sit back down

I saw some of you guys hesitating like I

I saw some of you guys hesitating like I don’t know

don’t know

don’t know I saw one person actually just stuck

I saw one person actually just stuck

I saw one person actually just stuck sitting there like that the feeling of

sitting there like that the feeling of

sitting there like that the feeling of not being supported is uncomfortable and

not being supported is uncomfortable and

not being supported is uncomfortable and it’s scary if you had to check to see if

it’s scary if you had to check to see if

it’s scary if you had to check to see if that chair was there and you had to

that chair was there and you had to

that chair was there and you had to check to see if you could sit on that

check to see if you could sit on that

check to see if you could sit on that chair and you had to do this every day

chair and you had to do this every day

chair and you had to do this every day it would naturally cause anxiety the

it would naturally cause anxiety the

it would naturally cause anxiety the absence of security causes weariness in

absence of security causes weariness in

absence of security causes weariness in the soul the trepidation that you just

the soul the trepidation that you just

the soul the trepidation that you just felt is the troubling sensation that our

felt is the troubling sensation that our

felt is the troubling sensation that our education system has created for so many

education system has created for so many

education system has created for so many kids as a society we cannot continue to

kids as a society we cannot continue to

kids as a society we cannot continue to ax children to sit on seats that are not

ax children to sit on seats that are not

ax children to sit on seats that are not designed to hold the weight of their

designed to hold the weight of their

designed to hold the weight of their purpose you see we must rethink what

purpose you see we must rethink what

purpose you see we must rethink what that seat looks like parent student

that seat looks like parent student

that seat looks like parent student school and community must become the

school and community must become the

school and community must become the four legs of a new chair supported by

four legs of a new chair supported by

four legs of a new chair supported by the frame of moral equity and until all

the frame of moral equity and until all

the frame of moral equity and until all four parts of that chair are working

four parts of that chair are working

four parts of that chair are working together reinforced by that moral frame

together reinforced by that moral frame

together reinforced by that moral frame we will not have a strong enough chair

we will not have a strong enough chair

we will not have a strong enough chair for our children to be educated on I

for our children to be educated on I

for our children to be educated on I suggest to you that a great education is

suggest to you that a great education is

suggest to you that a great education is possible for every child however this

possible for every child however this

possible for every child however this idea requires broader support to work

idea requires broader support to work

idea requires broader support to work properly if we don’t get that support

properly if we don’t get that support

properly if we don’t get that support from every segment of our society we

from every segment of our society we

from every segment of our society we will not have an education system that

will not have an education system that

will not have an education system that works for

works for

works for a child now I must admit I was

a child now I must admit I was

a child now I must admit I was completely unaware of the conditions of

completely unaware of the conditions of

completely unaware of the conditions of our education system for many years and

our education system for many years and

our education system for many years and I was totally ignorant of the challenges

I was totally ignorant of the challenges

I was totally ignorant of the challenges in trying to reform that system you see

in trying to reform that system you see

in trying to reform that system you see I’m not an educator I just played one on

I’m not an educator I just played one on

I’m not an educator I just played one on TV I’m a pastor of an amazing church in

TV I’m a pastor of an amazing church in

TV I’m a pastor of an amazing church in the great city of Baltimore Baltimore is

the great city of Baltimore Baltimore is

the great city of Baltimore Baltimore is located in the mid-atlantic region of

located in the mid-atlantic region of

located in the mid-atlantic region of our country nestled between New York and

our country nestled between New York and

our country nestled between New York and Washington DC and it wasn’t until 2012

Washington DC and it wasn’t until 2012

Washington DC and it wasn’t until 2012 that my eyes were open when I was asked

that my eyes were open when I was asked

that my eyes were open when I was asked to convene a meeting of faith leaders to

to convene a meeting of faith leaders to

to convene a meeting of faith leaders to see if there was interest amongst our

see if there was interest amongst our

see if there was interest amongst our group to connect with our local schools

group to connect with our local schools

group to connect with our local schools at that meeting our host the Maryland

at that meeting our host the Maryland

at that meeting our host the Maryland campaign for achievement now began to

campaign for achievement now began to

campaign for achievement now began to share data with me that was

share data with me that was

share data with me that was inconceivable they broke down the

inconceivable they broke down the

inconceivable they broke down the demographics of our city schools they

demographics of our city schools they

demographics of our city schools they told us that we had approximately 86

told us that we had approximately 86

told us that we had approximately 86 thousand students among which 46% were

thousand students among which 46% were

thousand students among which 46% were African American male and out of that

African American male and out of that

African American male and out of that subgroup only 9% were proficient in

subgroup only 9% were proficient in

subgroup only 9% were proficient in reading 9% 46% African American male is

reading 9% 46% African American male is

reading 9% 46% African American male is almost half of our student body

almost half of our student body

almost half of our student body population and out of that group 91

population and out of that group 91

population and out of that group 91 percent of them were not reading on

percent of them were not reading on

percent of them were not reading on their proper grade level 91% the

their proper grade level 91% the

their proper grade level 91% the information that they share wasn’t just

information that they share wasn’t just

information that they share wasn’t just focused on deficiencies it was also

focused on deficiencies it was also

focused on deficiencies it was also focused on hope and opportunity they

focused on hope and opportunity they

focused on hope and opportunity they also shared information about schools

also shared information about schools

also shared information about schools that were defined the impossible they

that were defined the impossible they

that were defined the impossible they called these schools opportunity schools

called these schools opportunity schools

called these schools opportunity schools because these schools afforded children

because these schools afforded children

because these schools afforded children from low-income households as well as

from low-income households as well as

from low-income households as well as high-income households the opportunity

high-income households the opportunity

high-income households the opportunity to succeed these particular schools

to succeed these particular schools

to succeed these particular schools seven Elementary Public Schools one

seven Elementary Public Schools one

seven Elementary Public Schools one public middle school

public middle school

public middle school were consistently leading children to

were consistently leading children to

were consistently leading children to outperform overall state proficiency

outperform overall state proficiency

outperform overall state proficiency rates so I said to myself I want to

rates so I said to myself I want to

rates so I said to myself I want to visit some of these schools so I did I

visit some of these schools so I did I

visit some of these schools so I did I met some incredible dedicated leaders

met some incredible dedicated leaders

met some incredible dedicated leaders exceptional teachers and principals some

exceptional teachers and principals some

exceptional teachers and principals some amazing students

amazing students

amazing students conversely then I wanted to go and visit

conversely then I wanted to go and visit

conversely then I wanted to go and visit schools that were not giving children

schools that were not giving children

schools that were not giving children the opportunity to succeed to see how

the opportunity to succeed to see how

the opportunity to succeed to see how they worked to make sure we’re not

they worked to make sure we’re not

they worked to make sure we’re not replicating that model throughout our

replicating that model throughout our

replicating that model throughout our city let’s figure out what works and

city let’s figure out what works and

city let’s figure out what works and replicate that model throughout all of

replicate that model throughout all of

replicate that model throughout all of Baltimore as I visited this one

Baltimore as I visited this one

Baltimore as I visited this one particular school that was not allowing

particular school that was not allowing

particular school that was not allowing children to succeed

children to succeed

children to succeed it created a seminal moment for me we

it created a seminal moment for me we

it created a seminal moment for me we got to go into a third grade classroom

got to go into a third grade classroom

got to go into a third grade classroom immediately I noticed a young man

immediately I noticed a young man

immediately I noticed a young man standing in the back corner of the room

standing in the back corner of the room

standing in the back corner of the room I said to myself there’s no way that we

I said to myself there’s no way that we

I said to myself there’s no way that we are still making kids stand in the

are still making kids stand in the

are still making kids stand in the corner for disciplinary reasons so out

corner for disciplinary reasons so out

corner for disciplinary reasons so out of curiosity I wanted to engage with

of curiosity I wanted to engage with

of curiosity I wanted to engage with this young man so I walked over to him I

this young man so I walked over to him I

this young man so I walked over to him I got down on one knee and I tapped him on

got down on one knee and I tapped him on

got down on one knee and I tapped him on the shoulder and I said how you doing my

the shoulder and I said how you doing my

the shoulder and I said how you doing my name is Michael Phillips the response

name is Michael Phillips the response

name is Michael Phillips the response that I got from the young man was not

that I got from the young man was not

that I got from the young man was not the response I thought I was gonna get

the response I thought I was gonna get

the response I thought I was gonna get this young man turned around bright-eyed

this young man turned around bright-eyed

this young man turned around bright-eyed and brilliant look me in the eyes shut

and brilliant look me in the eyes shut

and brilliant look me in the eyes shut my hand he said hi my name is Calvin

my hand he said hi my name is Calvin

my hand he said hi my name is Calvin I said hey Calvin how are you he says

I said hey Calvin how are you he says

I said hey Calvin how are you he says I’m good

I’m good

I’m good I said are you joining your class today

I said are you joining your class today

I said are you joining your class today he says yes I said what are you guys

he says yes I said what are you guys

he says yes I said what are you guys learning he said well this is social

learning he said well this is social

learning he said well this is social studies and we’re learning about history

studies and we’re learning about history

studies and we’re learning about history this is my favorite class I said ah man

this is my favorite class I said ah man

this is my favorite class I said ah man that’s awesome

that’s awesome

that’s awesome I said Calvin let me ask you a question

I said Calvin let me ask you a question

I said Calvin let me ask you a question why are you standing up in the corner

why are you standing up in the corner

why are you standing up in the corner and Calvin looked at me with those

and Calvin looked at me with those

and Calvin looked at me with those bright and brilliant eyes and said

bright and brilliant eyes and said

bright and brilliant eyes and said because my chair is broken I said excuse

because my chair is broken I said excuse

because my chair is broken I said excuse me

me

me he said my chair is broken he then

he said my chair is broken he then

he said my chair is broken he then pointed to the chair and said every time

pointed to the chair and said every time

pointed to the chair and said every time I sit in that chair I fall and when I

I sit in that chair I fall and when I

I sit in that chair I fall and when I fall I get into trouble so I rather just

fall I get into trouble so I rather just

fall I get into trouble so I rather just stand in the corner and do my work for

stand in the corner and do my work for

stand in the corner and do my work for whatever reason I got down on the floor

whatever reason I got down on the floor

whatever reason I got down on the floor in my nice suit and I started to try to

in my nice suit and I started to try to

in my nice suit and I started to try to fix this chair feverishly I noticed

fix this chair feverishly I noticed

fix this chair feverishly I noticed immediately that the chair was old and

immediately that the chair was old and

immediately that the chair was old and worn and it was built to be adjustable

worn and it was built to be adjustable

worn and it was built to be adjustable and the four legs on the chair weren’t

and the four legs on the chair weren’t

and the four legs on the chair weren’t sturdy because the frame that connected

sturdy because the frame that connected

sturdy because the frame that connected the four legs were bent and broken one

the four legs were bent and broken one

the four legs were bent and broken one of the four legs was stuck in the up

of the four legs was stuck in the up

of the four legs was stuck in the up position and so I started tugging on it

position and so I started tugging on it

position and so I started tugging on it and pulling on it and somehow it popped

and pulling on it and somehow it popped

and pulling on it and somehow it popped out I was able to adjust it a little bit

out I was able to adjust it a little bit

out I was able to adjust it a little bit and set it up a little bit higher and

and set it up a little bit higher and

and set it up a little bit higher and then I looked at Calvin and said hey I

then I looked at Calvin and said hey I

then I looked at Calvin and said hey I fixed your chair

fixed your chair

fixed your chair Calvin practiced things ran over sat in

Calvin practiced things ran over sat in

Calvin practiced things ran over sat in that seat gave me a big smile and stuck

that seat gave me a big smile and stuck

that seat gave me a big smile and stuck his chest out like he was ready to soar

his chest out like he was ready to soar

his chest out like he was ready to soar I walked out of that classroom and I had

I walked out of that classroom and I had

I walked out of that classroom and I had an epiphany I said to myself I can fix

an epiphany I said to myself I can fix

an epiphany I said to myself I can fix chairs

I got halfway down the hall and here

I got halfway down the hall and here comes Calvin running down the hall

comes Calvin running down the hall

comes Calvin running down the hall I hear him screaming my name mr.

I hear him screaming my name mr.

I hear him screaming my name mr. Phillips mr. Phillips I turn around I

Phillips mr. Phillips I turn around I

Phillips mr. Phillips I turn around I see it’s Calvin and he’s running fast as

see it’s Calvin and he’s running fast as

see it’s Calvin and he’s running fast as he possibly can and he gets close to me

he possibly can and he gets close to me

he possibly can and he gets close to me and leaps into my arms and says thank

and leaps into my arms and says thank

and leaps into my arms and says thank you for fixing my chair I said our buddy

you for fixing my chair I said our buddy

you for fixing my chair I said our buddy you welcome and then he looked at me

you welcome and then he looked at me

you welcome and then he looked at me with those brilliant bright eyes and

with those brilliant bright eyes and

with those brilliant bright eyes and said now can you help me fix my school I

said now can you help me fix my school I

said now can you help me fix my school I looked at Calvin and said i’ma get to

looked at Calvin and said i’ma get to

looked at Calvin and said i’ma get to work on it he ran back to class and I

work on it he ran back to class and I

work on it he ran back to class and I ran out of that room trying to figure

ran out of that room trying to figure

ran out of that room trying to figure out how I can help Calvin fix his school

out how I can help Calvin fix his school

out how I can help Calvin fix his school because like Calvin will now change when

because like Calvin will now change when

because like Calvin will now change when our children are forced to learn on

our children are forced to learn on

our children are forced to learn on broken chairs then they are forced to

broken chairs then they are forced to

broken chairs then they are forced to stand in the corners of our society I

stand in the corners of our society I

stand in the corners of our society I started to do some homework in some

started to do some homework in some

started to do some homework in some research and what I discovered as one

research and what I discovered as one

research and what I discovered as one writer put it the atrocious educational

writer put it the atrocious educational

writer put it the atrocious educational conditions that cause children to lose

conditions that cause children to lose

conditions that cause children to lose that educational lives and social and

that educational lives and social and

that educational lives and social and economic futures exists because we fail

economic futures exists because we fail

economic futures exists because we fail to teach them to read and to think

to teach them to read and to think

to teach them to read and to think adequately for these times it was dr.

adequately for these times it was dr.

adequately for these times it was dr. King who told us that we are now faced

King who told us that we are now faced

King who told us that we are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today we

with the fact that tomorrow is today we

with the fact that tomorrow is today we are confronted with the fierce urgency

are confronted with the fierce urgency

are confronted with the fierce urgency of now dr. King also added we may cry

of now dr. King also added we may cry

of now dr. King also added we may cry out desperately for time to pause in her

out desperately for time to pause in her

out desperately for time to pause in her passage but time is deaf to every plea

passage but time is deaf to every plea

passage but time is deaf to every plea and it rushes on I did a little bit more

and it rushes on I did a little bit more

and it rushes on I did a little bit more digging and I found out that over the

digging and I found out that over the

digging and I found out that over the last thirty years some impressive

last thirty years some impressive

last thirty years some impressive changes have been made in the right

changes have been made in the right

changes have been made in the right direction

direction

direction it was the 1983 publication a nation at

it was the 1983 publication a nation at

it was the 1983 publication a nation at risk that uncovered the state of

risk that uncovered the state of

risk that uncovered the state of American education and exposed what that

American education and exposed what that

American education and exposed what that meant for individuals and for our

meant for individuals and for our

meant for individuals and for our country and that one document produced

country and that one document produced

country and that one document produced all types of reforms and movements but

all types of reforms and movements but

all types of reforms and movements but even with all the movies and reforms

even with all the movies and reforms

even with all the movies and reforms over the last 30 years

over the last 30 years

over the last 30 years not too much as moved and not too much

not too much as moved and not too much

not too much as moved and not too much has changed for most families the

has changed for most families the

has changed for most families the structure of public education remains

structure of public education remains

structure of public education remains unaffected the chair is still broken

unaffected the chair is still broken

unaffected the chair is still broken education reform can

education reform can

education reform can used to be the civil rights issue of our

used to be the civil rights issue of our

used to be the civil rights issue of our time the chair is broken because it was

time the chair is broken because it was

time the chair is broken because it was built by the branches of immoral

built by the branches of immoral

built by the branches of immoral policies rather than by the roots of

policies rather than by the roots of

policies rather than by the roots of moral clarity the system is broken

moral clarity the system is broken

moral clarity the system is broken because it was never designed to educate

because it was never designed to educate

because it was never designed to educate every child consequently we still have

every child consequently we still have

every child consequently we still have children trapped and fell geographically

children trapped and fell geographically

children trapped and fell geographically determined schools the system still

determined schools the system still

determined schools the system still allows with the defensive continuation

allows with the defensive continuation

allows with the defensive continuation for the school to Prison Pipeline it was

for the school to Prison Pipeline it was

for the school to Prison Pipeline it was Frederick Douglass who told us it is

Frederick Douglass who told us it is

Frederick Douglass who told us it is easier to build strong children than to

easier to build strong children than to

easier to build strong children than to fix broken men if these conditions don’t

fix broken men if these conditions don’t

fix broken men if these conditions don’t change our children will continue to

change our children will continue to

change our children will continue to languish until we address some of these

languish until we address some of these

languish until we address some of these foundational issues now here’s the good

foundational issues now here’s the good

foundational issues now here’s the good news

news

news time can be redeemed I suggest to you

time can be redeemed I suggest to you

time can be redeemed I suggest to you that we are not out of time and we are

that we are not out of time and we are

that we are not out of time and we are not out of options

here are three options that we can

here are three options that we can implement right now that can make

implement right now that can make

implement right now that can make education possible for every child

education possible for every child

education possible for every child priority people and peace I’m gonna say

priority people and peace I’m gonna say

priority people and peace I’m gonna say that one more time

that one more time

that one more time priority people and pace the common good

priority people and pace the common good

priority people and pace the common good of educating kids must become a priority

of educating kids must become a priority

of educating kids must become a priority again we need to shift our priorities

again we need to shift our priorities

again we need to shift our priorities the roots of community can regrow the

the roots of community can regrow the

the roots of community can regrow the branches of policy my entire

branches of policy my entire

branches of policy my entire congregation shifted its priorities when

congregation shifted its priorities when

congregation shifted its priorities when it partnered or for transformational

it partnered or for transformational

it partnered or for transformational school and helped it become a public

school and helped it become a public

school and helped it become a public charter we made history with the largest

charter we made history with the largest

charter we made history with the largest number of people ever in the history of

number of people ever in the history of

number of people ever in the history of our education system in Baltimore to be

our education system in Baltimore to be

our education system in Baltimore to be at a charter school hearing we shut the

at a charter school hearing we shut the

at a charter school hearing we shut the place down we mobilize over 300

place down we mobilize over 300

place down we mobilize over 300 volunteers to be reading

volunteers to be reading

volunteers to be reading interventionists tutors mentors and

interventionists tutors mentors and

interventionists tutors mentors and wraparound supports for schools parents

wraparound supports for schools parents

wraparound supports for schools parents teachers and students if we can shift

teachers and students if we can shift

teachers and students if we can shift our priority driven by our conscience we

our priority driven by our conscience we

our priority driven by our conscience we can turn the tide for so many children

can turn the tide for so many children

can turn the tide for so many children and for so many families we need more

and for so many families we need more

and for so many families we need more people to advocate for public education

people to advocate for public education

people to advocate for public education we need more voices to advocate for high

we need more voices to advocate for high

we need more voices to advocate for high quality education we need more people to

quality education we need more people to

quality education we need more people to advocate for change in our structure and

advocate for change in our structure and

advocate for change in our structure and a change in our system you do not need a

a change in our system you do not need a

a change in our system you do not need a degree in education to advocate for

degree in education to advocate for

degree in education to advocate for education

all you need is a voice and your voice

all you need is a voice and your voice is powerful you can you can urge with

is powerful you can you can urge with

is powerful you can you can urge with conviction that policymakers and school

conviction that policymakers and school

conviction that policymakers and school districts in every stakeholder get

districts in every stakeholder get

districts in every stakeholder get results now you can do that with your

results now you can do that with your

results now you can do that with your voice

voice

voice we can set an urgent pace because

we can set an urgent pace because

we can set an urgent pace because citizen advocates are the greatest

citizen advocates are the greatest

citizen advocates are the greatest disruptors to status quo and let’s face

disruptors to status quo and let’s face

disruptors to status quo and let’s face this reality right now status quo is the

this reality right now status quo is the

this reality right now status quo is the real enemy the enemy is not the

real enemy the enemy is not the

real enemy the enemy is not the legislator the enemy is not the teachers

legislator the enemy is not the teachers

legislator the enemy is not the teachers union the enemy is not the teacher and

union the enemy is not the teacher and

union the enemy is not the teacher and for God’s sake the enemy is not charter

for God’s sake the enemy is not charter

for God’s sake the enemy is not charter schools the enemy is keeping business as

schools the enemy is keeping business as

schools the enemy is keeping business as usual and allowing the status quo to

usual and allowing the status quo to

usual and allowing the status quo to continue that is the real enemy

continue that is the real enemy

continue that is the real enemy [Applause]

we can make it a priority to seek out

we can make it a priority to seek out the schools and the programs and the

the schools and the programs and the

the schools and the programs and the teachers and the nonprofit’s that are

teachers and the nonprofit’s that are

teachers and the nonprofit’s that are making change happen now in our

making change happen now in our

making change happen now in our communities we can set that urgent piece

communities we can set that urgent piece

communities we can set that urgent piece together and become an estoppel force

together and become an estoppel force

together and become an estoppel force for change we can show up in so many

for change we can show up in so many

for change we can show up in so many places in school districts school

places in school districts school

places in school districts school hearings school board meetings City

hearings school board meetings City

hearings school board meetings City Council meetings we can tell the stories

Council meetings we can tell the stories

Council meetings we can tell the stories of those parents and teachers and

of those parents and teachers and

of those parents and teachers and students like Calvin who are on the

students like Calvin who are on the

students like Calvin who are on the front line of this struggle and we can

front line of this struggle and we can

front line of this struggle and we can do that on social media and in blogs and

do that on social media and in blogs and

do that on social media and in blogs and in our local newspaper we can lift our

in our local newspaper we can lift our

in our local newspaper we can lift our collective voices and channel our

collective voices and channel our

collective voices and channel our innermost Oprah and say to every child

innermost Oprah and say to every child

innermost Oprah and say to every child you get an education you get an

you get an education you get an

you get an education you get an education

education

education everybody gets an education and we can

everybody gets an education and we can

everybody gets an education and we can do this so that no child ever has to

do this so that no child ever has to

do this so that no child ever has to learn on a broken chair again thank you