good afternoon in honor of my beautiful wife I just want to first briefly
wife I just want to first briefly
wife I just want to first briefly mention that i got married exactly a
mention that i got married exactly a
mention that i got married exactly a week ago yeah yeah i say that because
week ago yeah yeah i say that because
week ago yeah yeah i say that because she’s beautiful but also because i was
she’s beautiful but also because i was
she’s beautiful but also because i was pretty sure it would get easy applause
pretty sure it would get easy applause
pretty sure it would get easy applause and i’m a sucker for applause my mom
and i’m a sucker for applause my mom
and i’m a sucker for applause my mom says that’s because i was born to be on
says that’s because i was born to be on
says that’s because i was born to be on stage I think she only thinks that
stage I think she only thinks that
stage I think she only thinks that because I used to strut around the house
because I used to strut around the house
because I used to strut around the house like this I just picture of me because
like this I just picture of me because
like this I just picture of me because it shows me being goofy but it also
it shows me being goofy but it also
it shows me being goofy but it also shows me in my school uniform and today
shows me in my school uniform and today
shows me in my school uniform and today I want to talk about students and
I want to talk about students and
I want to talk about students and schools and I think it’s a great picture
schools and I think it’s a great picture
schools and I think it’s a great picture to start and I want to talk about the
to start and I want to talk about the
to start and I want to talk about the way we think about those two things and
way we think about those two things and
way we think about those two things and when it comes to thinking I like the way
when it comes to thinking I like the way
when it comes to thinking I like the way dr. Seuss said it said think left and
dr. Seuss said it said think left and
dr. Seuss said it said think left and think right think low and think hi oh
think right think low and think hi oh
think right think low and think hi oh the thinks you can think up if you only
the thinks you can think up if you only
the thinks you can think up if you only try and since dr. Seuss is a favorite
try and since dr. Seuss is a favorite
try and since dr. Seuss is a favorite thinker of mine I’d like to honor him
thinker of mine I’d like to honor him
thinker of mine I’d like to honor him for the rest of our time by speaking to
for the rest of our time by speaking to
for the rest of our time by speaking to you only in rhyme let’s try see I’m
you only in rhyme let’s try see I’m
you only in rhyme let’s try see I’m happy to be with you starting this first
happy to be with you starting this first
happy to be with you starting this first session and since I was a teacher I’d
session and since I was a teacher I’d
session and since I was a teacher I’d like to start with a lesson don’t worry
like to start with a lesson don’t worry
like to start with a lesson don’t worry it’s not a tested subject it won’t be on
it’s not a tested subject it won’t be on
it’s not a tested subject it won’t be on the examination but I do want to talk
the examination but I do want to talk
the examination but I do want to talk about this thing we call education
about this thing we call education
about this thing we call education October first 1908 it’s a date in
October first 1908 it’s a date in
October first 1908 it’s a date in American history Ford Motor Company
American history Ford Motor Company
American history Ford Motor Company presents the Model T the first car cheap
presents the Model T the first car cheap
presents the Model T the first car cheap enough that every American can test
enough that every American can test
enough that every American can test students sit in classrooms with pencils
students sit in classrooms with pencils
students sit in classrooms with pencils at desks july twenty first 1969 256 am
at desks july twenty first 1969 256 am
at desks july twenty first 1969 256 am universal time Neil Armstrong steps foot
universal time Neil Armstrong steps foot
universal time Neil Armstrong steps foot upon the moon American technology and
upon the moon American technology and
upon the moon American technology and ingenuity are at the world’s best
ingenuity are at the world’s best
ingenuity are at the world’s best students it in classrooms with pencils
students it in classrooms with pencils
students it in classrooms with pencils at desks December twenty-fifth nineteen
at desks December twenty-fifth nineteen
at desks December twenty-fifth nineteen ninety christmas and the Internet’s
ninety christmas and the Internet’s
ninety christmas and the Internet’s first build is a success the future is
first build is a success the future is
first build is a success the future is upon us let’s lay old habits to read
upon us let’s lay old habits to read
upon us let’s lay old habits to read students sit in classrooms with pencils
students sit in classrooms with pencils
students sit in classrooms with pencils at desks we’ve had more than just change
at desks we’ve had more than just change
at desks we’ve had more than just change in the last 100 years hopes and fears
in the last 100 years hopes and fears
in the last 100 years hopes and fears realized in technological innovation
realized in technological innovation
realized in technological innovation from war spot in trenches towards with
from war spot in trenches towards with
from war spot in trenches towards with unmanned aviation but frozen in time
unmanned aviation but frozen in time
unmanned aviation but frozen in time seemed the halls of education I can put
seemed the halls of education I can put
seemed the halls of education I can put you in a classroom send you back in the
you in a classroom send you back in the
you in a classroom send you back in the day in a time machine a hundred years
day in a time machine a hundred years
day in a time machine a hundred years ago or in the modern age you could step
ago or in the modern age you could step
ago or in the modern age you could step into that classroom and see not much has
into that classroom and see not much has
into that classroom and see not much has changed same pencils still desks still
changed same pencils still desks still
changed same pencils still desks still an inflexible school day now don’t get
an inflexible school day now don’t get
an inflexible school day now don’t get it twisted yah and hatin on pencils when
it twisted yah and hatin on pencils when
it twisted yah and hatin on pencils when I put mine to page I unleash the inner
I put mine to page I unleash the inner
I put mine to page I unleash the inner temple and don’t get it twisted i’m not
temple and don’t get it twisted i’m not
temple and don’t get it twisted i’m not hating on desks but are these the two
hating on desks but are these the two
hating on desks but are these the two best tools we should be using to assess
best tools we should be using to assess
best tools we should be using to assess typewriters change the way we write
typewriters change the way we write
typewriters change the way we write computers change the way we type phones
computers change the way we type phones
computers change the way we type phones change the way we talk but few changes
change the way we talk but few changes
change the way we talk but few changes take place in the place where things are
take place in the place where things are
take place in the place where things are taught society can’t understand a
taught society can’t understand a
taught society can’t understand a teacher’s frustration you see we’ve
teacher’s frustration you see we’ve
teacher’s frustration you see we’ve treated schools like gun legislation
treated schools like gun legislation
treated schools like gun legislation made tiny changes and prayed for major
made tiny changes and prayed for major
made tiny changes and prayed for major results and then pointed our fingers at
results and then pointed our fingers at
results and then pointed our fingers at the victims and told them it was their
the victims and told them it was their
the victims and told them it was their fault and there’s no sense in blamin
fault and there’s no sense in blamin
fault and there’s no sense in blamin we’re all reaping what we’ve sown we’ve
we’re all reaping what we’ve sown we’ve
we’re all reaping what we’ve sown we’ve got graduation rates through the roof
got graduation rates through the roof
got graduation rates through the roof and college readiness barely grown I’ve
and college readiness barely grown I’ve
and college readiness barely grown I’ve taught at schools with crumbling walls
taught at schools with crumbling walls
taught at schools with crumbling walls and I’ve taught in schools just a few
and I’ve taught in schools just a few
and I’ve taught in schools just a few years old they’ve all been held in on
years old they’ve all been held in on
years old they’ve all been held in on just sticking the kids in rows we got
just sticking the kids in rows we got
just sticking the kids in rows we got generations of kids staring at the back
generations of kids staring at the back
generations of kids staring at the back of each other’s heads and we wonder why
of each other’s heads and we wonder why
of each other’s heads and we wonder why it’s hard for them to look you in the
it’s hard for them to look you in the
it’s hard for them to look you in the eye and shake your hand instead I’ve
eye and shake your hand instead I’ve
eye and shake your hand instead I’ve taught in schools that locked all their
taught in schools that locked all their
taught in schools that locked all their books away and I’ve taught in schools
books away and I’ve taught in schools
books away and I’ve taught in schools that thought ipads were some sort of
that thought ipads were some sort of
that thought ipads were some sort of educational miracle gateway and tried to
educational miracle gateway and tried to
educational miracle gateway and tried to solve every problem by just throwing
solve every problem by just throwing
solve every problem by just throwing technology their way but still teaching
technology their way but still teaching
technology their way but still teaching in old ways and allowing behavior in
in old ways and allowing behavior in
in old ways and allowing behavior in curriculum to stay so what if we design
curriculum to stay so what if we design
curriculum to stay so what if we design a new educational reality what if we
a new educational reality what if we
a new educational reality what if we turn classrooms into modern sanctuary
turn classrooms into modern sanctuary
turn classrooms into modern sanctuary grace I hear people say we can’t change
grace I hear people say we can’t change
grace I hear people say we can’t change school it’s just no good but I don’t
school it’s just no good but I don’t
school it’s just no good but I don’t believe that I say what if we could what
believe that I say what if we could what
believe that I say what if we could what if we instead of building buildings
if we instead of building buildings
if we instead of building buildings built ships friendships relationships
built ships friendships relationships
built ships friendships relationships help a real wooden ship put the kids in
help a real wooden ship put the kids in
help a real wooden ship put the kids in the boat and had an adventure you all
the boat and had an adventure you all
the boat and had an adventure you all you can’t learn everything about life
you can’t learn everything about life
you can’t learn everything about life while sitting inside four walls because
while sitting inside four walls because
while sitting inside four walls because if you want to change education you
if you want to change education you
if you want to change education you gotta go somewhere you gotta get on a
gotta go somewhere you gotta get on a
gotta go somewhere you gotta get on a plane get on a train get in your brain
plane get on a train get in your brain
plane get on a train get in your brain use your imagination and go somewhere
use your imagination and go somewhere
use your imagination and go somewhere it’s not a lesson it’s an adventure what
it’s not a lesson it’s an adventure what
it’s not a lesson it’s an adventure what if instead of sitting at the desk we
if instead of sitting at the desk we
if instead of sitting at the desk we danced on top of it what if we build
danced on top of it what if we build
danced on top of it what if we build kids up with courage so that they could
kids up with courage so that they could
kids up with courage so that they could hop off of it what do we threw out the
hop off of it what do we threw out the
hop off of it what do we threw out the desk and talk class on the floor what if
desk and talk class on the floor what if
desk and talk class on the floor what if trips and experiences matter more than
trips and experiences matter more than
trips and experiences matter more than scores what if teachers felt safe to
scores what if teachers felt safe to
scores what if teachers felt safe to fail when they try something unique what
fail when they try something unique what
fail when they try something unique what if learning didn’t have to stop so we
if learning didn’t have to stop so we
if learning didn’t have to stop so we can test for a whole week what if
can test for a whole week what if
can test for a whole week what if because if you want to change education
because if you want to change education
because if you want to change education let me tell you you got to treat
let me tell you you got to treat
let me tell you you got to treat teachers like rock stars like rock stars
teachers like rock stars like rock stars
teachers like rock stars like rock stars I’m not talking higher paychecks and
I’m not talking higher paychecks and
I’m not talking higher paychecks and premium parking spots I mean I am
premium parking spots I mean I am
premium parking spots I mean I am talking those things but I’m also
talking those things but I’m also
talking those things but I’m also talking like like like front page of the
talking like like like front page of the
talking like like like front page of the newspaper like open bar at the Christmas
newspaper like open bar at the Christmas
newspaper like open bar at the Christmas party rock stars
so what if we changed schools and what
so what if we changed schools and what they look like what if we change how
they look like what if we change how
they look like what if we change how they feel because we got to take this
they feel because we got to take this
they feel because we got to take this tired and turn it inspired and see what
tired and turn it inspired and see what
tired and turn it inspired and see what it yields what if we design creativity
it yields what if we design creativity
it yields what if we design creativity because our kids deserve more than us
because our kids deserve more than us
because our kids deserve more than us sitting around in designing test scores
sitting around in designing test scores
sitting around in designing test scores what if we gave students real work not
what if we gave students real work not
what if we gave students real work not just worksheets and I’m not talking
just worksheets and I’m not talking
just worksheets and I’m not talking about making them calculate vertical
about making them calculate vertical
about making them calculate vertical leaps because you know those kids their
leaps because you know those kids their
leaps because you know those kids their big basketball fans I’m talking send the
big basketball fans I’m talking send the
big basketball fans I’m talking send the kids out into the field to collect
kids out into the field to collect
kids out into the field to collect economic data and have them overlay it
economic data and have them overlay it
economic data and have them overlay it with water quality maps from across the
with water quality maps from across the
with water quality maps from across the city and start asking big questions like
city and start asking big questions like
city and start asking big questions like why are some neighborhoods more toxic
why are some neighborhoods more toxic
why are some neighborhoods more toxic than others I’m talking about making
than others I’m talking about making
than others I’m talking about making kids write screenplays and then run
kids write screenplays and then run
kids write screenplays and then run their own Film Festival I’m talking
their own Film Festival I’m talking
their own Film Festival I’m talking about giving kids a shot at curing
about giving kids a shot at curing
about giving kids a shot at curing cancer because who knows what problem we
cancer because who knows what problem we
cancer because who knows what problem we can’t solve that is just waiting to be
can’t solve that is just waiting to be
can’t solve that is just waiting to be graced by the genius that is a child’s
graced by the genius that is a child’s
graced by the genius that is a child’s mind I’m talking give kids a position in
mind I’m talking give kids a position in
mind I’m talking give kids a position in the company store the company it’s not a
the company store the company it’s not a
the company store the company it’s not a lesson it’s a mission
you see the world is moving faster
you see the world is moving faster change it every day but our schools
change it every day but our schools
change it every day but our schools still treat kids in the exact same way
how can transportation go from cars to
how can transportation go from cars to planes to spaceships in less than 60
planes to spaceships in less than 60
planes to spaceships in less than 60 years but we still got kids sitting in a
years but we still got kids sitting in a
years but we still got kids sitting in a desk eighty percent of the year I think
desk eighty percent of the year I think
desk eighty percent of the year I think it says something about our nation when
it says something about our nation when
it says something about our nation when we’ve made a thousand times more
we’ve made a thousand times more
we’ve made a thousand times more advancements in war than we have an
advancements in war than we have an
advancements in war than we have an education the factories have closed
education the factories have closed
education the factories have closed we’re still teaching in old ways
we’re still teaching in old ways
we’re still teaching in old ways assembly line days and it’s not just on
assembly line days and it’s not just on
assembly line days and it’s not just on teachers let me leave the script behind
teachers let me leave the script behind
teachers let me leave the script behind for a minute and you know what I’ll try
for a minute and you know what I’ll try
for a minute and you know what I’ll try to keep it in rhyme we’ll see if you
to keep it in rhyme we’ll see if you
to keep it in rhyme we’ll see if you guys can get it this is not just
guys can get it this is not just
guys can get it this is not just educators this is our entire situation
educators this is our entire situation
educators this is our entire situation if your company is not worried about the
if your company is not worried about the
if your company is not worried about the state of education then I guess you’re
state of education then I guess you’re
state of education then I guess you’re not hoping to be around to hire the next
not hoping to be around to hire the next
not hoping to be around to hire the next generation it’s not just Texas it’s not
generation it’s not just Texas it’s not
generation it’s not just Texas it’s not just California this is every American
just California this is every American
just California this is every American state I’ve met CEOs who are scared to
state I’ve met CEOs who are scared to
state I’ve met CEOs who are scared to death about the quality of their
death about the quality of their
death about the quality of their candidates but we can do this people we
candidates but we can do this people we
candidates but we can do this people we can do it faster than we are we can make
can do it faster than we are we can make
can do it faster than we are we can make education and Industry that’s racing for
education and Industry that’s racing for
education and Industry that’s racing for the stars we can use the natural
the stars we can use the natural
the stars we can use the natural creativity that’s in a child’s mind to
creativity that’s in a child’s mind to
creativity that’s in a child’s mind to make the world a better place there’s no
make the world a better place there’s no
make the world a better place there’s no limit to what a child can do to help
limit to what a child can do to help
limit to what a child can do to help this human race because every the answer
this human race because every the answer
this human race because every the answer to every problem that we have ever ever
to every problem that we have ever ever
to every problem that we have ever ever been in will be sitting in a classroom
been in will be sitting in a classroom
been in will be sitting in a classroom monday morning at 8am so let’s help
monday morning at 8am so let’s help
monday morning at 8am so let’s help these kids shape the future not make
these kids shape the future not make
these kids shape the future not make them sit and watch it progress you can’t
them sit and watch it progress you can’t
them sit and watch it progress you can’t change the world if you’re only sitting
change the world if you’re only sitting
change the world if you’re only sitting in a desk thank you guys
in a desk thank you guys
in a desk thank you guys you
”
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