have you ever wondered why the words used to describe certain faith leaders
used to describe certain faith leaders
used to describe certain faith leaders like rabbis Imams gurus can all be
like rabbis Imams gurus can all be
like rabbis Imams gurus can all be translated teacher that’s because the
translated teacher that’s because the
translated teacher that’s because the act of teaching is divine and when you
act of teaching is divine and when you
act of teaching is divine and when you ask someone to list the top qualities of
ask someone to list the top qualities of
ask someone to list the top qualities of a good teacher you get words like
a good teacher you get words like
a good teacher you get words like patience caring diligent where do these
patience caring diligent where do these
patience caring diligent where do these qualities come from certainly not from
qualities come from certainly not from
qualities come from certainly not from section 95 63 of the state-mandated
section 95 63 of the state-mandated
section 95 63 of the state-mandated teacher evaluation and accountability
teacher evaluation and accountability
teacher evaluation and accountability metric no these are divine qualities
metric no these are divine qualities
metric no these are divine qualities that come from above yet teachers are
that come from above yet teachers are
that come from above yet teachers are not divine teachers are human and
not divine teachers are human and
not divine teachers are human and because we’re human we go through human
because we’re human we go through human
because we’re human we go through human experiences like divorce bankruptcy
experiences like divorce bankruptcy
experiences like divorce bankruptcy cancer anxiety and depression and when
cancer anxiety and depression and when
cancer anxiety and depression and when you factor in the daily demands of our
you factor in the daily demands of our
you factor in the daily demands of our jobs serving high-need students often
jobs serving high-need students often
jobs serving high-need students often without high levels of support or pay
without high levels of support or pay
without high levels of support or pay there’s no mystery why there’s a
there’s no mystery why there’s a
there’s no mystery why there’s a critical teacher shortage in many parts
critical teacher shortage in many parts
critical teacher shortage in many parts of America and why enrollment in teacher
of America and why enrollment in teacher
of America and why enrollment in teacher prep schools has fallen by as much as
prep schools has fallen by as much as
prep schools has fallen by as much as 35% billions of taxpayer dollars have
35% billions of taxpayer dollars have
35% billions of taxpayer dollars have been spent to reform this system of
been spent to reform this system of
been spent to reform this system of education with meager often depressing
education with meager often depressing
education with meager often depressing results why because these reforms failed
results why because these reforms failed
results why because these reforms failed to address two vital things the humanity
to address two vital things the humanity
to address two vital things the humanity of teachers and the divinity of our work
in my 15 years serving in Chicago Public
in my 15 years serving in Chicago Public Schools which is the third largest
Schools which is the third largest
Schools which is the third largest school district located in the Midwest I
school district located in the Midwest I
school district located in the Midwest I have become convinced that the single
have become convinced that the single
have become convinced that the single most effective strategy for improving
most effective strategy for improving
most effective strategy for improving student outcomes is legal abundant and
student outcomes is legal abundant and
student outcomes is legal abundant and free faith you see prayer is a way that
free faith you see prayer is a way that
free faith you see prayer is a way that people can express their faith and
people can express their faith and
people can express their faith and prayer is the point in which teachers
prayer is the point in which teachers
prayer is the point in which teachers humanity and God’s divinity collide as
humanity and God’s divinity collide as
humanity and God’s divinity collide as the founder and CEO of teachers who pray
the founder and CEO of teachers who pray
the founder and CEO of teachers who pray which is a non-profit devote it to
which is a non-profit devote it to
which is a non-profit devote it to equipping teachers with to ground their
equipping teachers with to ground their
equipping teachers with to ground their work in spiritual practices like prayer
work in spiritual practices like prayer
work in spiritual practices like prayer faith it is my life’s mission to make
faith it is my life’s mission to make
faith it is my life’s mission to make faith a legitimate nonpartisan
faith a legitimate nonpartisan
faith a legitimate nonpartisan mainstream strategy for improving
mainstream strategy for improving
mainstream strategy for improving schools think now if you think that I am
schools think now if you think that I am
schools think now if you think that I am trying to get teachers and school staff
trying to get teachers and school staff
trying to get teachers and school staff and public schools to pray do not be
and public schools to pray do not be
and public schools to pray do not be alarmed I am NOT trying I am doing it
but I don’t want these prayers to exist
but I don’t want these prayers to exist in the same way they did before the 1962
in the same way they did before the 1962
in the same way they did before the 1962 US Supreme Court decision that banned
US Supreme Court decision that banned
US Supreme Court decision that banned teacher led student prayer no let’s be
teacher led student prayer no let’s be
teacher led student prayer no let’s be clear teacher to student prayer in
clear teacher to student prayer in
clear teacher to student prayer in public schools violates the US
public schools violates the US
public schools violates the US Constitution’s Establishment Clause
Constitution’s Establishment Clause
Constitution’s Establishment Clause known on the street as the separation of
known on the street as the separation of
known on the street as the separation of church and state during the school day
church and state during the school day
church and state during the school day teachers are not are serving as ages of
teachers are not are serving as ages of
teachers are not are serving as ages of the government and therefore can neither
the government and therefore can neither
the government and therefore can neither encourage or discourage religious
encourage or discourage religious
encourage or discourage religious activity with students
activity with students
activity with students however teacher to teacher prayer before
however teacher to teacher prayer before
however teacher to teacher prayer before or after school or on a duty free lunch
or after school or on a duty free lunch
or after school or on a duty free lunch break in the absence of students is
break in the absence of students is
break in the absence of students is absolutely legal in public schools it is
absolutely legal in public schools it is
absolutely legal in public schools it is protected free speech under the First
protected free speech under the First
protected free speech under the First Amendment
Amendment
Amendment so I say pray teachers pray I’m wrong
so I say pray teachers pray I’m wrong
so I say pray teachers pray I’m wrong thank you I’ve long found it fascinating
thank you I’ve long found it fascinating
thank you I’ve long found it fascinating when I hear people say well you know the
when I hear people say well you know the
when I hear people say well you know the course took God out of out of public
course took God out of out of public
course took God out of out of public schools really I know what they mean but
schools really I know what they mean but
schools really I know what they mean but think about it he is God if he created
think about it he is God if he created
think about it he is God if he created the universe and the Stars and the moon
the universe and the Stars and the moon
the universe and the Stars and the moon and he’s everywhere all at the same time
and he’s everywhere all at the same time
and he’s everywhere all at the same time then who’s powerful enough to take God
then who’s powerful enough to take God
then who’s powerful enough to take God out of any place
out of any place
out of any place [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I imagine God being escorted out of the
I imagine God being escorted out of the
I imagine God being escorted out of the building by the school security guard
building by the school security guard
building by the school security guard God is standing in the parking lot
God is standing in the parking lot
God is standing in the parking lot looking back at the building holding his
looking back at the building holding his
looking back at the building holding his box of personal belongings a tear the
box of personal belongings a tear the
box of personal belongings a tear the size of the Pacific Ocean is running
size of the Pacific Ocean is running
size of the Pacific Ocean is running down his face and in reality students
down his face and in reality students
down his face and in reality students have very liberal religious liberties in
have very liberal religious liberties in
have very liberal religious liberties in schools
schools
schools unlike teachers they can pretty much
unlike teachers they can pretty much
unlike teachers they can pretty much talk about God and express their freedom
talk about God and express their freedom
talk about God and express their freedom of religion as much as they want so the
of religion as much as they want so the
of religion as much as they want so the issue is not whether God can or cannot
issue is not whether God can or cannot
issue is not whether God can or cannot be in a public school
be in a public school
be in a public school the issue is teachers and students
the issue is teachers and students
the issue is teachers and students understanding the laws that govern
understanding the laws that govern
understanding the laws that govern religious liberties in school and that’s
religious liberties in school and that’s
religious liberties in school and that’s what I help them with so yes
what I help them with so yes
what I help them with so yes [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so you may ask well what has happened
so you may ask well what has happened
so you may ask well what has happened since that 1962 US Supreme Court
since that 1962 US Supreme Court
since that 1962 US Supreme Court decision well is it coincidental that
decision well is it coincidental that
decision well is it coincidental that you suicide has triple digit increases
you suicide has triple digit increases
you suicide has triple digit increases school shootings have also had triple
school shootings have also had triple
school shootings have also had triple digit increases
digit increases
digit increases I’m personally convinced that our
I’m personally convinced that our
I’m personally convinced that our humanity is in desperate need for the
humanity is in desperate need for the
humanity is in desperate need for the divine and that teachers praying and
divine and that teachers praying and
divine and that teachers praying and meditating in schools can help get us
meditating in schools can help get us
meditating in schools can help get us there so you may ask Marilyn help me
there so you may ask Marilyn help me
there so you may ask Marilyn help me understand this master prayer plan you
understand this master prayer plan you
understand this master prayer plan you have how does it work well let me take
have how does it work well let me take
have how does it work well let me take you back to 2008 I was a third grade
you back to 2008 I was a third grade
you back to 2008 I was a third grade teacher in one of the most dangerous
teacher in one of the most dangerous
teacher in one of the most dangerous blighted communities in Chicago that
blighted communities in Chicago that
blighted communities in Chicago that year the district lost 27 students to
year the district lost 27 students to
year the district lost 27 students to gun violence and occasionally I would
gun violence and occasionally I would
gun violence and occasionally I would hear gunfire outside my second floor
hear gunfire outside my second floor
hear gunfire outside my second floor classroom window
we held teachers who pray meetings after
we held teachers who pray meetings after school in my classroom once a week and
school in my classroom once a week and
school in my classroom once a week and we pray for our students but curiously I
we pray for our students but curiously I
we pray for our students but curiously I began hearing prayer requests from the
began hearing prayer requests from the
began hearing prayer requests from the teachers on a personal level one teacher
teachers on a personal level one teacher
teachers on a personal level one teacher thought she had cancer because her
thought she had cancer because her
thought she had cancer because her medical tests kept coming back abnormal
medical tests kept coming back abnormal
medical tests kept coming back abnormal another teacher had lost her home and
another teacher had lost her home and
another teacher had lost her home and was living in a hotel with her four
was living in a hotel with her four
was living in a hotel with her four young children and a husband who was
young children and a husband who was
young children and a husband who was verbally and physically abusive I had
verbally and physically abusive I had
verbally and physically abusive I had just bought a home and had learned from
just bought a home and had learned from
just bought a home and had learned from my principal that the next year I would
my principal that the next year I would
my principal that the next year I would be out of a job I was shocked by the
be out of a job I was shocked by the
be out of a job I was shocked by the amount of pressure and anxiety we were
amount of pressure and anxiety we were
amount of pressure and anxiety we were all secretly carrying
all secretly carrying
all secretly carrying as we dealt with the most vulnerable
as we dealt with the most vulnerable
as we dealt with the most vulnerable students you can imagine doing a job
students you can imagine doing a job
students you can imagine doing a job that in most days seemed impossible we
that in most days seemed impossible we
that in most days seemed impossible we realize that it wasn’t our students who
realize that it wasn’t our students who
realize that it wasn’t our students who were in most need of prayer it was us we
were in most need of prayer it was us we
were in most need of prayer it was us we were a mess and we also realized that
were a mess and we also realized that
were a mess and we also realized that broken teachers cannot uplift broken
broken teachers cannot uplift broken
broken teachers cannot uplift broken students so in our in our humanity we
students so in our in our humanity we
students so in our in our humanity we tapped into the divine and before long
tapped into the divine and before long
tapped into the divine and before long we grew to become the most energetic
we grew to become the most energetic
we grew to become the most energetic optimistic resilient on fire
optimistic resilient on fire
optimistic resilient on fire soon to be unemployed potentially
soon to be unemployed potentially
soon to be unemployed potentially diseased and domestically distressed
diseased and domestically distressed
diseased and domestically distressed teachers you’d ever want to meet and we
teachers you’d ever want to meet and we
teachers you’d ever want to meet and we did some of our best teaching so what I
did some of our best teaching so what I
did some of our best teaching so what I say is that prayer has the power to turn
say is that prayer has the power to turn
say is that prayer has the power to turn difficult situations around and in our
difficult situations around and in our
difficult situations around and in our situation many of our prayers were
situation many of our prayers were
situation many of our prayers were indeed answered but even if the
indeed answered but even if the
indeed answered but even if the situation had not turned around prayer
situation had not turned around prayer
situation had not turned around prayer had changed us suddenly the things that
had changed us suddenly the things that
had changed us suddenly the things that would make us irritable and raise our
would make us irritable and raise our
would make us irritable and raise our blood pressure we came laughing about it
blood pressure we came laughing about it
blood pressure we came laughing about it and when you get to that point as a
and when you get to that point as a
and when you get to that point as a teacher you’re unstoppable you’re
teacher you’re unstoppable you’re
teacher you’re unstoppable you’re courageous you’re bold you’re confident
courageous you’re bold you’re confident
courageous you’re bold you’re confident you leave fearlessly and you stand up
you leave fearlessly and you stand up
you leave fearlessly and you stand up for the oppressed and the poor and you
for the oppressed and the poor and you
for the oppressed and the poor and you don’t worry about your job you don’t
don’t worry about your job you don’t
don’t worry about your job you don’t worry about anything because you know
worry about anything because you know
worry about anything because you know who has your back
that’s where change comes from I am
that’s where change comes from I am mobilizing teachers to use their own
mobilizing teachers to use their own
mobilizing teachers to use their own faith because it’s already in them that
faith because it’s already in them that
faith because it’s already in them that does that the belief about why they were
does that the belief about why they were
does that the belief about why they were born why they stepped into this job in
born why they stepped into this job in
born why they stepped into this job in the first place
the first place
the first place to fuel more success and more courage in
to fuel more success and more courage in
to fuel more success and more courage in the classroom and in the schools and in
the classroom and in the schools and in
the classroom and in the schools and in so by in so doing we are changing
so by in so doing we are changing
so by in so doing we are changing education from the inside out not from
education from the inside out not from
education from the inside out not from the top down and this spiritual
the top down and this spiritual
the top down and this spiritual awareness that you get from prayer
awareness that you get from prayer
awareness that you get from prayer transcends your human limitations and
transcends your human limitations and
transcends your human limitations and causes you to rest in an unlimited peace
causes you to rest in an unlimited peace
causes you to rest in an unlimited peace from the divine in the Christian
from the divine in the Christian
from the divine in the Christian tradition is called possessing the fruit
tradition is called possessing the fruit
tradition is called possessing the fruit of the Spirit love joy peace patience
of the Spirit love joy peace patience
of the Spirit love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness
kindness goodness faithfulness
kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness and self-control there’s a
gentleness and self-control there’s a
gentleness and self-control there’s a scripture in the Bible that says against
scripture in the Bible that says against
scripture in the Bible that says against such there is no law in other words no
such there is no law in other words no
such there is no law in other words no one regardless of your religious
one regardless of your religious
one regardless of your religious background or whether you believe in God
background or whether you believe in God
background or whether you believe in God at all would argue against the beauty of
at all would argue against the beauty of
at all would argue against the beauty of those nine virtues there is a recent Pew
those nine virtues there is a recent Pew
those nine virtues there is a recent Pew study they said that 75 percent of
study they said that 75 percent of
study they said that 75 percent of Americans say that faith in religion is
Americans say that faith in religion is
Americans say that faith in religion is either very important or somewhat
either very important or somewhat
either very important or somewhat important to them and their personal
important to them and their personal
important to them and their personal lives but it’s very curious that when I
lives but it’s very curious that when I
lives but it’s very curious that when I begin to talk about faith in the public
begin to talk about faith in the public
begin to talk about faith in the public square and the public market of ideas
square and the public market of ideas
square and the public market of ideas people get uncomfortable people don’t
people get uncomfortable people don’t
people get uncomfortable people don’t really know how to accept it so they may
really know how to accept it so they may
really know how to accept it so they may have it on a personal level I am
have it on a personal level I am
have it on a personal level I am thinking that some of us are like that
thinking that some of us are like that
thinking that some of us are like that friend of mine who says he’s allergic to
friend of mine who says he’s allergic to
friend of mine who says he’s allergic to olives
olives
olives as he breaks his bread and dips it into
as he breaks his bread and dips it into
as he breaks his bread and dips it into a plate of extra-virgin olive oil
a plate of extra-virgin olive oil
a plate of extra-virgin olive oil he likes what the olives produces but he
he likes what the olives produces but he
he likes what the olives produces but he does not like the olive and in American
does not like the olive and in American
does not like the olive and in American society we’re very much like that we
society we’re very much like that we
society we’re very much like that we paying for teachers who have all these
paying for teachers who have all these
paying for teachers who have all these divine qualities that they’re loving
divine qualities that they’re loving
divine qualities that they’re loving that they’re patient that they believe
that they’re patient that they believe
that they’re patient that they believe in justice for the oppressed that they
in justice for the oppressed that they
in justice for the oppressed that they have self-control but we’re afraid of
have self-control but we’re afraid of
have self-control but we’re afraid of that very source that olive that helps
that very source that olive that helps
that very source that olive that helps us produce those qualities I’ll end with
us produce those qualities I’ll end with
us produce those qualities I’ll end with this you often hear people and we heard
this you often hear people and we heard
this you often hear people and we heard it today say that education equity is
it today say that education equity is
it today say that education equity is the civil rights issue of our times and
the civil rights issue of our times and
the civil rights issue of our times and I agree with that 100% but my question
I agree with that 100% but my question
I agree with that 100% but my question is how was a civil rights movement
is how was a civil rights movement
is how was a civil rights movement fought and won through protests marches
fought and won through protests marches
fought and won through protests marches legislation sit-ins all of the above
legislation sit-ins all of the above
legislation sit-ins all of the above correct but we commonly overlooked two
correct but we commonly overlooked two
correct but we commonly overlooked two vital strategies that was the foundation
vital strategies that was the foundation
vital strategies that was the foundation of it all prayer and faith you see dr.
of it all prayer and faith you see dr.
of it all prayer and faith you see dr. Martin Luther King he was a pastor
Martin Luther King he was a pastor
Martin Luther King he was a pastor before he became a civil rights activist
before he became a civil rights activist
before he became a civil rights activist yes and he was a man of prayer and he
yes and he was a man of prayer and he
yes and he was a man of prayer and he also led the black churches in the south
also led the black churches in the south
also led the black churches in the south in prayer in Bible study in the singing
in prayer in Bible study in the singing
in prayer in Bible study in the singing of spiritual songs they here in Negro
of spiritual songs they here in Negro
of spiritual songs they here in Negro spirituals he with other leaders of
spirituals he with other leaders of
spirituals he with other leaders of faith including rabbis they respected
faith including rabbis they respected
faith including rabbis they respected and studied the pedagogy of Jesus that
and studied the pedagogy of Jesus that
and studied the pedagogy of Jesus that said you love even in the midst of
said you love even in the midst of
said you love even in the midst of bitter hatred and when he wouldn’t King
bitter hatred and when he wouldn’t King
bitter hatred and when he wouldn’t King needed an example to explain why he was
needed an example to explain why he was
needed an example to explain why he was doing what he was doing he turned to the
doing what he was doing he turned to the
doing what he was doing he turned to the great Jewish leader Moses who led the
great Jewish leader Moses who led the
great Jewish leader Moses who led the Hebrew slave
Hebrew slave
Hebrew slave out of bondage into the promised land
out of bondage into the promised land
out of bondage into the promised land and he also turned to the great Hindu
and he also turned to the great Hindu
and he also turned to the great Hindu leader Mahatma Gandhi who through his
leader Mahatma Gandhi who through his
leader Mahatma Gandhi who through his faith led peaceful protests that led to
faith led peaceful protests that led to
faith led peaceful protests that led to the liberation of India at its core the
the liberation of India at its core the
the liberation of India at its core the civil rights movement was a spiritual
civil rights movement was a spiritual
civil rights movement was a spiritual movement and if education equity is the
movement and if education equity is the
movement and if education equity is the civil rights issue of our day then it
civil rights issue of our day then it
civil rights issue of our day then it too at its core is and needs to be a
too at its core is and needs to be a
too at its core is and needs to be a spiritual movement I am here to tell you
spiritual movement I am here to tell you
spiritual movement I am here to tell you cater x’ that our faith is legal our
cater x’ that our faith is legal our
cater x’ that our faith is legal our faith is abundant our faith is free and
faith is abundant our faith is free and
faith is abundant our faith is free and our faith will absolutely fix education
our faith will absolutely fix education
our faith will absolutely fix education thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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