I want to talk to you about love I’ll probably say some things to you that I
probably say some things to you that I
probably say some things to you that I had not even thought I would ever say
had not even thought I would ever say
had not even thought I would ever say publicly because I do want to be real
publicly because I do want to be real
publicly because I do want to be real and sincere somewhat vulnerable these
and sincere somewhat vulnerable these
and sincere somewhat vulnerable these are the things that tell my students
are the things that tell my students
are the things that tell my students only love can drive out darkness fear
only love can drive out darkness fear
only love can drive out darkness fear anxiety and trepidation
anxiety and trepidation
anxiety and trepidation so then hark hark back to the days of my
so then hark hark back to the days of my
so then hark hark back to the days of my youth my formative years I loved
youth my formative years I loved
youth my formative years I loved learning a great deal my daddy taught me
learning a great deal my daddy taught me
learning a great deal my daddy taught me how to read as a three year old and a
how to read as a three year old and a
how to read as a three year old and a four year old and I went to kindergarten
four year old and I went to kindergarten
four year old and I went to kindergarten a very strong and fluent reader and a
a very strong and fluent reader and a
a very strong and fluent reader and a confident learner on or about the third
confident learner on or about the third
confident learner on or about the third grade I lost my love of learning
grade I lost my love of learning
grade I lost my love of learning my passion for school got up and left it
my passion for school got up and left it
my passion for school got up and left it never came back at Garfield High School
never came back at Garfield High School
never came back at Garfield High School I was told by a teacher that I didn’t
I was told by a teacher that I didn’t
I was told by a teacher that I didn’t belong in the algebra class he insulted
belong in the algebra class he insulted
belong in the algebra class he insulted me but even then I knew that the pen is
me but even then I knew that the pen is
me but even then I knew that the pen is mightier than the sword so I wrote this
mightier than the sword so I wrote this
mightier than the sword so I wrote this article up at Sunday March 25th 1979 38
article up at Sunday March 25th 1979 38
article up at Sunday March 25th 1979 38 years ago I’m not responsible for the
years ago I’m not responsible for the
years ago I’m not responsible for the headline it may I read it to you please
headline it may I read it to you please
headline it may I read it to you please says blacks at Garfield
says blacks at Garfield
says blacks at Garfield not getting proper education you can see
not getting proper education you can see
not getting proper education you can see how old this article is and in those
how old this article is and in those
how old this article is and in those days I had here this was a long time ago
days I had here this was a long time ago
days I had here this was a long time ago and so in the article in my summary I
and so in the article in my summary I
and so in the article in my summary I said we need to do a better job
said we need to do a better job
said we need to do a better job preparing students to come to this
preparing students to come to this
preparing students to come to this school or this institution of learning
school or this institution of learning
school or this institution of learning we need
we need
we need to get parents involved parents I
to get parents involved parents I
to get parents involved parents I implore you parents become more involved
implore you parents become more involved
implore you parents become more involved in the education to children that’s what
in the education to children that’s what
in the education to children that’s what I said is a 16 year old I think I just
I said is a 16 year old I think I just
I said is a 16 year old I think I just wanted my professor or my teacher of
wanted my professor or my teacher of
wanted my professor or my teacher of mathematics in algebra Garfield heisman
mathematics in algebra Garfield heisman
mathematics in algebra Garfield heisman no I’m not really as stupid as you
no I’m not really as stupid as you
no I’m not really as stupid as you represent to me me to be maybe have the
represent to me me to be maybe have the
represent to me me to be maybe have the wrong perception of me I’m really not
wrong perception of me I’m really not
wrong perception of me I’m really not that bad I have some worth that was my
that bad I have some worth that was my
that bad I have some worth that was my third-grade experience a majority
third-grade experience a majority
third-grade experience a majority elementary school madrone Park where I
elementary school madrone Park where I
elementary school madrone Park where I lived Garfield High School Howard
lived Garfield High School Howard
lived Garfield High School Howard University I went there in 1980 with no
University I went there in 1980 with no
University I went there in 1980 with no money maybe $75 and a beat oh gee grant
money maybe $75 and a beat oh gee grant
money maybe $75 and a beat oh gee grant and those days it wasn’t pale it was
and those days it wasn’t pale it was
and those days it wasn’t pale it was called beö G basic educational
called beö G basic educational
called beö G basic educational opportunity grant I thought that was my
opportunity grant I thought that was my
opportunity grant I thought that was my full ride I did it true right I was a
full ride I did it true right I was a
full ride I did it true right I was a Spanish my parents I was living in my
Spanish my parents I was living in my
Spanish my parents I was living in my own sofa surfing I was homeless in high
own sofa surfing I was homeless in high
own sofa surfing I was homeless in high school before I love Seattle
school before I love Seattle
school before I love Seattle I never missed Monday a class here you
I never missed Monday a class here you
I never missed Monday a class here you see this E and this was a logo that we
see this E and this was a logo that we
see this E and this was a logo that we crowd sourced and my students and
crowd sourced and my students and
crowd sourced and my students and Bellevue Woodinville Seattle of
Bellevue Woodinville Seattle of
Bellevue Woodinville Seattle of southeast Seattle said that’s the logo
southeast Seattle said that’s the logo
southeast Seattle said that’s the logo we want when the one I wanted one they
we want when the one I wanted one they
we want when the one I wanted one they wanted it’s an e it’s the emo it’s a
wanted it’s an e it’s the emo it’s a
wanted it’s an e it’s the emo it’s a brain right and it’s the emote that’s
brain right and it’s the emote that’s
brain right and it’s the emote that’s the experience all the enrichment mode
the experience all the enrichment mode
the experience all the enrichment mode of teaching not pencil and paper not for
of teaching not pencil and paper not for
of teaching not pencil and paper not for funky you got to do it I’m gonna put
funky you got to do it I’m gonna put
funky you got to do it I’m gonna put myself in a spot right now and do some
myself in a spot right now and do some
myself in a spot right now and do some mind right see we can always read and do
mind right see we can always read and do
mind right see we can always read and do everything else in public
everything else in public
everything else in public can’t we not do a little bit of math
can’t we not do a little bit of math
can’t we not do a little bit of math right I just had a birthday two days ago
right I just had a birthday two days ago
right I just had a birthday two days ago who cares
who cares
who cares no one not so right at 250 by now
no one not so right at 250 by now
no one not so right at 250 by now responses people are still giving me
responses people are still giving me
responses people are still giving me birthday wishes right and I’m sending
birthday wishes right and I’m sending
birthday wishes right and I’m sending myself here’s a math problem I have 2260
myself here’s a math problem I have 2260
myself here’s a math problem I have 2260 friends on my page so I ask you what’s
friends on my page so I ask you what’s
friends on my page so I ask you what’s the fewest number of friends I need to
the fewest number of friends I need to
the fewest number of friends I need to have such that I can say with absolute
have such that I can say with absolute
have such that I can say with absolute certainty of veracity but at least one
certainty of veracity but at least one
certainty of veracity but at least one day of the year there’ll be
day of the year there’ll be
day of the year there’ll be birthday on my page of my friends right
birthday on my page of my friends right
birthday on my page of my friends right wait maybe it’s just 365 right 365 days
wait maybe it’s just 365 right 365 days
wait maybe it’s just 365 right 365 days a year
a year
a year I only need 365 friends Society I can
I only need 365 friends Society I can
I only need 365 friends Society I can have a birthday on my page every day of
have a birthday on my page every day of
have a birthday on my page every day of the year makes sense
the year makes sense
the year makes sense according to pigeonhole principle it
according to pigeonhole principle it
according to pigeonhole principle it states that if two or more events can
states that if two or more events can
states that if two or more events can possibly occur at least some of them
possibly occur at least some of them
possibly occur at least some of them could occur in the same day anybody here
could occur in the same day anybody here
could occur in the same day anybody here have a birthday in April okay keep your
have a birthday in April okay keep your
have a birthday in April okay keep your hands up anybody here ever have a
hands up anybody here ever have a
hands up anybody here ever have a birthday in April second my birthday
birthday in April second my birthday
birthday in April second my birthday April 2nd right okay what about this I
April 2nd right okay what about this I
April 2nd right okay what about this I have 80 friends that follow me I don’t
have 80 friends that follow me I don’t
have 80 friends that follow me I don’t know why I don’t post that much all
know why I don’t post that much all
know why I don’t post that much all right I only talked about math my
right I only talked about math my
right I only talked about math my grandkids but what’s the ratio of my
grandkids but what’s the ratio of my
grandkids but what’s the ratio of my followers to those who reply to me with
followers to those who reply to me with
followers to those who reply to me with my birthday messages how many more
my birthday messages how many more
my birthday messages how many more people would I need to have in this
people would I need to have in this
people would I need to have in this auditorium for to be more likely but at
auditorium for to be more likely but at
auditorium for to be more likely but at least one of you would also have a
least one of you would also have a
least one of you would also have a birthday in April 2nd see it’s nothing
birthday in April 2nd see it’s nothing
birthday in April 2nd see it’s nothing wrong with thinking about math why is
wrong with thinking about math why is
wrong with thinking about math why is there so much fear shame and
there so much fear shame and
there so much fear shame and embarrassment and trepidation about
embarrassment and trepidation about
embarrassment and trepidation about mathematics anybody here besides me I’m
mathematics anybody here besides me I’m
mathematics anybody here besides me I’m already exposed anybody here besides me
already exposed anybody here besides me
already exposed anybody here besides me ever have any anxiety ever had a massive
ever have any anxiety ever had a massive
ever have any anxiety ever had a massive math or taught me panic attack anybody
math or taught me panic attack anybody
math or taught me panic attack anybody here ever just recoil from mathematics
here ever just recoil from mathematics
here ever just recoil from mathematics everyone just me all right Oh guess what
everyone just me all right Oh guess what
everyone just me all right Oh guess what I tell my students don’t raise your hand
I tell my students don’t raise your hand
I tell my students don’t raise your hand like this oh it’s like that or it’s
like this oh it’s like that or it’s
like this oh it’s like that or it’s nothing right my wife told me this
nothing right my wife told me this
nothing right my wife told me this morning she ignored I’m praying for you
morning she ignored I’m praying for you
morning she ignored I’m praying for you but I don’t want you to shout at those
but I don’t want you to shout at those
but I don’t want you to shout at those people right because I get kind of loud
people right because I get kind of loud
people right because I get kind of loud I’m trying to really keep it down –mode
I’m trying to really keep it down –mode
I’m trying to really keep it down –mode fear no number this little fellow here
fear no number this little fellow here
fear no number this little fellow here is one of my students and she teaches me
is one of my students and she teaches me
is one of my students and she teaches me lots of math I love learning I love my
lots of math I love learning I love my
lots of math I love learning I love my students more than my own life and they
students more than my own life and they
students more than my own life and they know it before I die
know it before I die
know it before I die here’s what I want to see
here’s what I want to see
here’s what I want to see my dream from see the everlasting side
my dream from see the everlasting side
my dream from see the everlasting side you see I want people especially those
you see I want people especially those
you see I want people especially those that look like me to be respected in the
that look like me to be respected in the
that look like me to be respected in the classroom and have opportunities and not
classroom and have opportunities and not
classroom and have opportunities and not to recoil from mathematics but to
to recoil from mathematics but to
to recoil from mathematics but to embrace it go after it that’s what I
embrace it go after it that’s what I
embrace it go after it that’s what I want to see I want to see students who
want to see I want to see students who
want to see I want to see students who have numerical literacy who are not
have numerical literacy who are not
have numerical literacy who are not afraid to do mathematical calculations
afraid to do mathematical calculations
afraid to do mathematical calculations that’s why I teach the Chinese abacus
that’s why I teach the Chinese abacus
that’s why I teach the Chinese abacus Japanese abacus and get them excited
Japanese abacus and get them excited
Japanese abacus and get them excited kids can’t wait to come to our class
kids can’t wait to come to our class
kids can’t wait to come to our class starting morning from October to May why
starting morning from October to May why
starting morning from October to May why is that because it’s not perfunctory I
is that because it’s not perfunctory I
is that because it’s not perfunctory I don’t care about stem what are you
don’t care about stem what are you
don’t care about stem what are you saying look about stem I just told you
saying look about stem I just told you
saying look about stem I just told you heard me I care abouts down I’m not
heard me I care abouts down I’m not
heard me I care abouts down I’m not trying to make you an engineer a
trying to make you an engineer a
trying to make you an engineer a mathematician
mathematician
mathematician but I do want you be proficient and have
but I do want you be proficient and have
but I do want you be proficient and have the skills and I want you to learn to
the skills and I want you to learn to
the skills and I want you to learn to love learning I have students middle
love learning I have students middle
love learning I have students middle schools I see in the summer they say I
schools I see in the summer they say I
schools I see in the summer they say I hate school I hate math well when you
hate school I hate math well when you
hate school I hate math well when you hate something you’re not permeable and
hate something you’re not permeable and
hate something you’re not permeable and you’re not malleable and how can you
you’re not malleable and how can you
you’re not malleable and how can you learn I’ve been married almost thirty
learn I’ve been married almost thirty
learn I’ve been married almost thirty years I just told my wife everything I
years I just told my wife everything I
years I just told my wife everything I hate you I hate you I hate you well what
hate you I hate you I hate you well what
hate you I hate you I hate you well what would that do right I mean you have to
would that do right I mean you have to
would that do right I mean you have to let her sink in
let her sink in
let her sink in there’s too much fear I want people in
there’s too much fear I want people in
there’s too much fear I want people in my community all across the fruited
my community all across the fruited
my community all across the fruited plain to create programs like this to
plain to create programs like this to
plain to create programs like this to give our kids a place just to do math so
give our kids a place just to do math so
give our kids a place just to do math so I lament why I cannot be a place to do
I lament why I cannot be a place to do
I lament why I cannot be a place to do mathematics just for fun just because
mathematics just for fun just because
mathematics just for fun just because for no other reason than that and if we
for no other reason than that and if we
for no other reason than that and if we do this k5 we’ll start sending kids to
do this k5 we’ll start sending kids to
do this k5 we’ll start sending kids to the middle school who embrace you want
the middle school who embrace you want
the middle school who embrace you want afraid and that’s what I want to see
afraid and that’s what I want to see
afraid and that’s what I want to see before I die my daddy taught me i’ma
before I die my daddy taught me i’ma
before I die my daddy taught me i’ma teach and I love teaching me they’ll
teach and I love teaching me they’ll
teach and I love teaching me they’ll carry out of a classroom my hope also is
carry out of a classroom my hope also is
carry out of a classroom my hope also is that my students will also teach because
that my students will also teach because
that my students will also teach because in the summer time and on Saturdays my
in the summer time and on Saturdays my
in the summer time and on Saturdays my students who matriculated through the
students who matriculated through the
students who matriculated through the program they now become teachers because
program they now become teachers because
program they now become teachers because it looks really good when the teenager
it looks really good when the teenager
it looks really good when the teenager is teaching you and then you have
is teaching you and then you have
is teaching you and then you have something to aspire and look up to be
something to aspire and look up to be
something to aspire and look up to be that’s what we do goes round and round
that’s what we do goes round and round
that’s what we do goes round and round and round I’m not going to live forever
and round I’m not going to live forever
and round I’m not going to live forever but this is the things I want you to
but this is the things I want you to
but this is the things I want you to know
know
know there’s no need for people to fear math
there’s no need for people to fear math
there’s no need for people to fear math if we give our students opportunities
if we give our students opportunities
if we give our students opportunities and embrace them with love and
and embrace them with love and
and embrace them with love and compassion we’re young they’ll be okay
compassion we’re young they’ll be okay
compassion we’re young they’ll be okay but I don’t want my students having the
but I don’t want my students having the
but I don’t want my students having the same experiences that I had
same experiences that I had
same experiences that I had I’ve decided but before I leave this
I’ve decided but before I leave this
I’ve decided but before I leave this life I want to burn this I’m sick and
life I want to burn this I’m sick and
life I want to burn this I’m sick and tired of it
tired of it
tired of it and I begin to wonder if we just don’t
and I begin to wonder if we just don’t
and I begin to wonder if we just don’t get more parents to create more
get more parents to create more
get more parents to create more enrichment community-based programs in
enrichment community-based programs in
enrichment community-based programs in our schools to serve our kids
our schools to serve our kids
our schools to serve our kids I’m just troubled that so many kids
I’m just troubled that so many kids
I’m just troubled that so many kids especially those that look like me
especially those that look like me
especially those that look like me report that they don’t love learning
report that they don’t love learning
report that they don’t love learning anybody here think math enrichment and
anybody here think math enrichment and
anybody here think math enrichment and k5 is important okay thank you
k5 is important okay thank you
k5 is important okay thank you so in this life that’s what I do and I’m
so in this life that’s what I do and I’m
so in this life that’s what I do and I’m very very grateful to Bellevue TEDx for
very very grateful to Bellevue TEDx for
very very grateful to Bellevue TEDx for having me here I’ve said enough I think
having me here I’ve said enough I think
having me here I’ve said enough I think you guys in this now blessed every want
you guys in this now blessed every want
you guys in this now blessed every want to be thank you for the opportunity
”
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