[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:01.94,0:00:05.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:05.10,0:00:07.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I moved to America 12 years ago
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.33,0:00:09.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with my wife Terry and our two kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:09.35,0:00:15.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Actually, truthfully, we moved to Los Angeles -- (Laughter) --
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.79,0:00:17.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thinking we were moving to America,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.54,0:00:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but anyway, it's a short plane ride from Los Angeles
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.96,0:00:26.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to America.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.85,0:00:29.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I got here 12 years ago,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.06,0:00:32.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when I got here, I was told various things,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.87,0:00:38.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, "Americans don't get irony."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.32,0:00:41.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Have you come across this idea?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.14,0:00:44.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not true. I've traveled the whole length and breadth of this country.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.22,0:00:47.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have found no evidence that Americans don't get irony.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.48,0:00:50.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's one of those cultural myths,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.07,0:00:54.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like, "The British are reserved."
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.12,0:00:56.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know why people think this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.46,0:00:58.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We've invaded every country we've encountered.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:58.97,0:01:02.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.60,0:01:05.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's not true Americans don't get irony,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.13,0:01:07.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but I just want you to know that that's what people
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.62,0:01:09.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are saying about you behind your back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.10,0:01:12.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, so when you leave living rooms in Europe,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.42,0:01:16.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people say, thankfully, nobody was ironic in your presence.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.89,0:01:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I knew that Americans get irony
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.62,0:01:25.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I came across that legislation No Child Left Behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.17,0:01:30.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because whoever thought of that title gets irony,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.19,0:01:32.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't they, because --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:32.04,0:01:37.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause) —
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.87,0:01:41.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it's leaving millions of children behind.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.41,0:01:44.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now I can see that's not a very attractive name for legislation:
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.58,0:01:48.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Millions of Children Left Behind. I can see that.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.21,0:01:49.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's the plan? Well, we propose
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.41,0:01:51.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to leave millions of children behind,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.01,0:01:53.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and here's how it's going to work.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.49,0:01:56.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's working beautifully.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.48,0:01:57.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In some parts of the country,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.67,0:02:01.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,60 percent of kids drop out of high school.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.68,0:02:03.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the Native American communities,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:03.18,0:02:05.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's 80 percent of kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.40,0:02:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If we halved that number, one estimate is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.62,0:02:14.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would create a net gain to the U.S. economy
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.05,0:02:18.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,over 10 years of nearly a trillion dollars.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.90,0:02:20.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,From an economic point of view,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.55,0:02:23.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this is good math, isn't it, that we should do this?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.79,0:02:26.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It actually costs an enormous amount
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.14,0:02:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to mop up the damage from the dropout crisis.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.30,0:02:34.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the dropout crisis is just the tip of an iceberg.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:34.03,0:02:36.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What it doesn't count are all the kids who are in school
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.28,0:02:40.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but being disengaged from it, who don't enjoy it,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.35,0:02:43.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who don't get any real benefit from it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.44,0:02:44.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason is
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.98,0:02:46.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not that we're not spending enough money.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.61,0:02:48.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,America spends more money on education
Dialogue: 0,0:02:48.53,0:02:50.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than most other countries.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.10,0:02:53.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Class sizes are smaller than in many countries.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.53,0:02:55.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And there are hundreds of initiatives every year
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.97,0:02:58.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to try and improve education.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.24,0:03:02.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The trouble is, it's all going in the wrong direction.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.76,0:03:03.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are three principles
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.93,0:03:07.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on which human life flourishes,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.36,0:03:11.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they are contradicted by the culture of education
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.38,0:03:13.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under which most teachers have to labor
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.65,0:03:16.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most students have to endure.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.98,0:03:19.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first is this, that human beings
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.54,0:03:24.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are naturally different and diverse.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.23,0:03:25.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can I ask you, how many of you
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.53,0:03:28.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have got children of your own?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.75,0:03:31.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Okay. Or grandchildren.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:31.90,0:03:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How about two children or more? Right.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.64,0:03:37.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the rest of you have seen such children.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.65,0:03:40.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.52,0:03:43.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Small people wandering about.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.54,0:03:45.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I will make you a bet,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.64,0:03:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I am confident that I will win the bet.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:47.07,0:03:49.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you've got two children or more,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.55,0:03:53.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I bet you they are completely different from each other.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.38,0:03:57.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Aren't they? Aren't they? (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.75,0:04:00.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You would never confuse them, would you?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.35,0:04:04.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Like, "Which one are you? Remind me.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.93,0:04:06.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your mother and I are going to introduce
Dialogue: 0,0:04:06.26,0:04:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some color-coding system, so we don't get confused."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.52,0:04:12.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Education under No Child Left Behind
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.77,0:04:17.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is based on not diversity but conformity.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.82,0:04:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What schools are encouraged to do is to find out
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.38,0:04:24.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what kids can do across a very narrow spectrum of achievement.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.74,0:04:27.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the effects of No Child Left Behind
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.13,0:04:29.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been to narrow the focus
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.09,0:04:32.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,onto the so-called STEM disciplines. They're very important.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.84,0:04:34.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not here to argue against science and math.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:34.95,0:04:39.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the contrary, they're necessary but they're not sufficient.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.18,0:04:41.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A real education has to give equal weight
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.38,0:04:45.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the arts, the humanities, to physical education.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.11,0:04:52.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An awful lot of kids, sorry, thank you — (Applause) —
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.30,0:04:55.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One estimate in America currently is that
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.21,0:04:57.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something like 10 percent of kids, getting on that way,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.87,0:05:02.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,are being diagnosed with various conditions
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.18,0:05:06.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under the broad title of attention deficit disorder.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.50,0:05:10.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ADHD. I'm not saying there's no such thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.18,0:05:13.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I just don't believe it's an epidemic like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.15,0:05:15.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you sit kids down, hour after hour,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.97,0:05:19.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,doing low-grade clerical work,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.15,0:05:22.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,don't be surprised if they start to fidget, you know?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.44,0:05:29.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.91,0:05:32.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Children are not, for the most part,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.32,0:05:34.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,suffering from a psychological condition.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.19,0:05:40.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're suffering from childhood. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.38,0:05:42.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I know this because I spent my early life
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.45,0:05:46.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a child. I went through the whole thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.31,0:05:49.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Kids prosper best with a broad curriculum
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.32,0:05:51.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that celebrates their various talents,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.72,0:05:53.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not just a small range of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:53.36,0:05:55.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And by the way, the arts aren't just important
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.51,0:05:56.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they improve math scores.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:56.78,0:05:58.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're important because they speak to parts
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.64,0:06:02.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of children's being which are otherwise untouched.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.15,0:06:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second, thank you — (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:08.56,0:06:12.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second principle that drives human life flourishing
Dialogue: 0,0:06:12.72,0:06:14.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is curiosity.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.36,0:06:17.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you can light the spark of curiosity in a child,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.73,0:06:21.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they will learn without any further assistance, very often.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:21.34,0:06:23.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Children are natural learners.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.55,0:06:27.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a real achievement to put that particular ability out,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.86,0:06:30.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to stifle it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:30.01,0:06:34.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Curiosity is the engine of achievement.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.24,0:06:36.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now the reason I say this is because
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.49,0:06:40.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of the effects of the current culture here, if I can say so,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:40.88,0:06:44.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been to de-professionalize teachers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.70,0:06:47.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is no system in the world
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.05,0:06:49.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or any school in the country
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.93,0:06:53.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that is better than its teachers.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.03,0:06:57.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Teachers are the lifeblood of the success of schools.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:57.64,0:07:00.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But teaching is a creative profession.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.62,0:07:04.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Teaching, properly conceived, is not a delivery system.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.05,0:07:06.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, you're not there just to pass on received information.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:06.94,0:07:09.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Great teachers do that,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.50,0:07:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but what great teachers also do is mentor,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.36,0:07:15.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stimulate, provoke, engage.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.87,0:07:18.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, in the end, education is about learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.68,0:07:20.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If there's no learning going on,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.40,0:07:22.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there's no education going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:22.04,0:07:23.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And people can spend an awful lot of time
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.88,0:07:26.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,discussing education without ever discussing learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.30,0:07:29.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The whole point of education is to get people to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.19,0:07:31.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A friend of mine, an old friend -- actually very old,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.88,0:07:35.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he's dead. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.67,0:07:41.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's as old as it gets, I'm afraid.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.40,0:07:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But a wonderful guy he was, wonderful philosopher.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.74,0:07:49.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He used to talk about the difference between the task
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.75,0:07:53.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and achievement senses of verbs.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.82,0:07:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, you can be engaged in the activity of something,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.62,0:07:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but not really be achieving it,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:57.21,0:08:01.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like dieting. It's a very good example, you know.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.86,0:08:06.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There he is. He's dieting. Is he losing any weight? Not really.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.53,0:08:07.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Teaching is a word like that.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:07.84,0:08:11.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can say, "There's Deborah, she's in room 34, she's teaching."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.82,0:08:13.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But if nobody's learning anything,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:13.55,0:08:15.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she may be engaged in the task of teaching
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.35,0:08:18.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but not actually fulfilling it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.42,0:08:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The role of a teacher is to facilitate learning. That's it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.27,0:08:24.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And part of the problem is, I think,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.58,0:08:28.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the dominant culture of education has come to focus
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.04,0:08:31.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on not teaching and learning, but testing.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.70,0:08:35.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, testing is important. Standardized tests have a place.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.40,0:08:38.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they should not be the dominant culture of education.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:38.72,0:08:40.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They should be diagnostic. They should help.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:40.57,0:08:48.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.14,0:08:50.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If I go for a medical examination,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.60,0:08:54.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want some standardized tests. I do.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.19,0:08:55.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, I want to know what my cholesterol level is
Dialogue: 0,0:08:55.86,0:08:58.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,compared to everybody else's on a standard scale.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.55,0:08:59.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't want to be told on some scale
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.98,0:09:03.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my doctor invented in the car.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.56,0:09:06.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Your cholesterol is what I call Level Orange."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.61,0:09:12.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Really? Is that good?""We don't know."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.30,0:09:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But all that should support learning. It shouldn't obstruct it,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.36,0:09:19.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which of course it often does.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.28,0:09:21.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in place of curiosity, what we have
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.44,0:09:23.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a culture of compliance.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:23.98,0:09:26.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our children and teachers are encouraged
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.90,0:09:29.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to follow routine algorithms
Dialogue: 0,0:09:29.50,0:09:33.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,rather than to excite that power of imagination and curiosity.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.84,0:09:34.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the third principle is this:
Dialogue: 0,0:09:34.90,0:09:37.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that human life is inherently creative.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.90,0:09:40.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's why we all have different résumés.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:40.31,0:09:42.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We create our lives,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.09,0:09:44.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we can recreate them as we go through them.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.43,0:09:47.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the common currency of being a human being.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.45,0:09:49.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's why human culture is so interesting and diverse
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.98,0:09:51.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and dynamic.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.32,0:09:54.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, other animals may well have imaginations
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.33,0:09:56.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and creativity, but it's not so much in evidence,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:56.61,0:09:58.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is it, as ours?
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.06,0:10:00.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, you may have a dog.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:00.64,0:10:03.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And your dog may get depressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:03.64,0:10:06.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, but it doesn't listen to Radiohead, does it?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:06.10,0:10:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.02,0:10:12.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And sit staring out the window with a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.53,0:10:16.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.96,0:10:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you say, "Would you like to come for a walk?"
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.62,0:10:21.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He says, "No, I'm fine.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:21.75,0:10:27.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You go. I'll wait. But take pictures."
Dialogue: 0,0:10:27.52,0:10:30.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all create our own lives through this restless process
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.43,0:10:32.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of imagining alternatives and possibilities,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.44,0:10:34.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what one of the roles of education
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.68,0:10:38.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is to awaken and develop these powers of creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.72,0:10:42.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, what we have is a culture of standardization.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.28,0:10:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, it doesn't have to be that way. It really doesn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:46.38,0:10:49.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Finland regularly comes out on top
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.94,0:10:51.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in math, science and reading.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:51.31,0:10:53.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, we only know that's what they do well at
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.93,0:10:55.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that's all that's being tested currently.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.79,0:10:57.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's one of the problems of the test.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:57.43,0:11:00.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't look for other things that matter just as much.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:00.59,0:11:03.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The thing about work in Finland is this:
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.10,0:11:06.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they don't obsess about those disciplines.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.47,0:11:08.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have a very broad approach to education
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.24,0:11:12.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which includes humanities, physical education, the arts.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:12.78,0:11:18.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Second, there is no standardized testing in Finland.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.51,0:11:20.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, there's a bit,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:20.27,0:11:21.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's not what gets people up in the morning.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.82,0:11:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's not what keeps them at their desks.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:24.03,0:11:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the third thing, and I was at a meeting recently
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.86,0:11:29.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with some people from Finland, actual Finnish people,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.29,0:11:32.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and somebody from the American system
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.09,0:11:33.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was saying to the people in Finland,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.86,0:11:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"What do you do about the dropout rate in Finland?"
Dialogue: 0,0:11:37.78,0:11:39.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they all looked a bit bemused, and said,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:39.40,0:11:42.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, we don't have one.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.25,0:11:44.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why would you drop out?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.59,0:11:46.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If people are in trouble, we get to them quite quickly
Dialogue: 0,0:11:46.86,0:11:48.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and help them and we support them."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.44,0:11:50.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now people always say, "Well, you know,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:50.34,0:11:53.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can't compare Finland to America."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:53.46,0:11:54.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No. I think there's a population
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.86,0:11:56.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of around five million in Finland.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:56.99,0:12:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you can compare it to a state in America.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.82,0:12:04.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many states in America have fewer people in them than that.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:04.72,0:12:06.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I mean, I've been to some states in America
Dialogue: 0,0:12:06.39,0:12:10.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I was the only person there. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.20,0:12:14.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Really. Really. I was asked to lock up when I left.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.57,0:12:18.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.60,0:12:22.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what all the high-performing systems in the world do
Dialogue: 0,0:12:22.54,0:12:26.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is currently what is not evident, sadly,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:26.72,0:12:30.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,across the systems in America -- I mean, as a whole.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:30.70,0:12:35.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is this: They individualize teaching and learning.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:35.64,0:12:39.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They recognize that it's students who are learning
Dialogue: 0,0:12:39.10,0:12:42.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the system has to engage them, their curiosity,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:42.76,0:12:45.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,their individuality, and their creativity.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:45.34,0:12:47.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how you get them to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.70,0:12:51.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second is that they attribute a very high status
Dialogue: 0,0:12:51.78,0:12:54.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the teaching profession.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:54.06,0:12:57.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They recognize that you can't improve education
Dialogue: 0,0:12:57.01,0:12:58.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you don't pick great people to teach
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.66,0:13:00.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you don't keep giving them constant support
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.52,0:13:02.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and professional development.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.28,0:13:05.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Investing in professional development is not a cost.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.22,0:13:06.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's an investment,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.62,0:13:09.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and every other country that's succeeding well knows that,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.56,0:13:14.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether it's Australia, Canada, South Korea, Singapore,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.52,0:13:17.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hong Kong or Shanghai. They know that to be the case.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.96,0:13:21.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the third is, they devolve responsibility
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.50,0:13:25.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to the school level for getting the job done.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.24,0:13:27.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, there's a big difference here between
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.62,0:13:31.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,going into a mode of command and control in education --
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.38,0:13:32.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what happens in some systems.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:32.98,0:13:34.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know, central governments decide
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.31,0:13:35.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or state governments decide
Dialogue: 0,0:13:35.60,0:13:38.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they know best and they're going to tell you what to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.59,0:13:42.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The trouble is that education doesn't go on
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.32,0:13:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the committee rooms of our legislative buildings.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.20,0:13:48.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It happens in classrooms and schools,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.28,0:13:51.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the people who do it are the teachers and the students,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.36,0:13:54.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you remove their discretion, it stops working.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.76,0:13:57.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to put it back to the people.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.82,0:14:02.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.64,0:14:05.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is wonderful work happening in this country.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.36,0:14:07.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I have to say it's happening
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.50,0:14:10.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in spite of the dominant culture of education,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:10.06,0:14:11.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not because of it.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:11.47,0:14:15.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like people are sailing into a headwind all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.07,0:14:17.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the reason I think is this:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:17.53,0:14:20.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that many of the current policies are based on
Dialogue: 0,0:14:20.87,0:14:23.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,mechanistic conceptions of education.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.91,0:14:27.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like education is an industrial process
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.68,0:14:30.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can be improved just by having better data,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.68,0:14:32.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and somewhere in, I think, the back of the mind
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.35,0:14:34.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of some policy makers is this idea that
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.49,0:14:37.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we fine-tune it well enough, if we just get it right,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.80,0:14:40.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it will all hum along perfectly into the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.44,0:14:43.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It won't, and it never did.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.66,0:14:47.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The point is that education is not a mechanical system.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.76,0:14:51.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a human system. It's about people,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.65,0:14:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who either do want to learn or don't want to learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:54.71,0:14:59.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every student who drops out of school has a reason for it
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.52,0:15:01.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is rooted in their own biography.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:01.84,0:15:04.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They may find it boring. They may find it irrelevant.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.87,0:15:07.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They may find that it's at odds
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.38,0:15:09.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with the life they're living outside of school.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:09.92,0:15:13.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There are trends, but the stories are always unique.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.76,0:15:16.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was at a meeting recently in Los Angeles of --
Dialogue: 0,0:15:16.76,0:15:19.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're called alternative education programs.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.01,0:15:22.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These are programs designed to get kids back into education.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.41,0:15:24.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have certain common features.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.36,0:15:26.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're very personalized.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.39,0:15:29.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have strong support for the teachers,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.60,0:15:31.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,close links with the community
Dialogue: 0,0:15:31.86,0:15:33.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a broad and diverse curriculum,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.49,0:15:36.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and often programs which involve students
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.12,0:15:38.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,outside school as well as inside school.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.79,0:15:40.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they work.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.50,0:15:41.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What's interesting to me is,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:41.90,0:15:45.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,these are called "alternative education."
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.09,0:15:47.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You know?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:47.27,0:15:49.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all the evidence from around the world is,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:49.05,0:15:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we all did that, there'd be no need for the alternative.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:53.27,0:16:01.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.69,0:16:04.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I think we have to embrace a different metaphor.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:04.54,0:16:07.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We have to recognize that it's a human system,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.20,0:16:10.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there are conditions under which people thrive,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:10.79,0:16:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and conditions under which they don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:13.70,0:16:16.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are after all organic creatures,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:16.62,0:16:21.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the culture of the school is absolutely essential.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:21.27,0:16:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Culture is an organic term, isn't it?
Dialogue: 0,0:16:23.70,0:16:27.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not far from where I live is a place called Death Valley.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.43,0:16:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Death Valley is the hottest, driest place in America,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.10,0:16:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and nothing grows there.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:35.90,0:16:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nothing grows there because it doesn't rain.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:38.52,0:16:40.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hence, Death Valley.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:40.92,0:16:48.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the winter of 2004, it rained in Death Valley.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:48.06,0:16:51.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Seven inches of rain fell over a very short period.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:51.84,0:16:57.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in the spring of 2005, there was a phenomenon.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:57.04,0:17:01.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The whole floor of Death Valley was carpeted in flowers
Dialogue: 0,0:17:01.67,0:17:03.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a while.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:03.43,0:17:08.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What it proved is this: that Death Valley isn't dead.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:08.72,0:17:11.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's dormant.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:11.59,0:17:14.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Right beneath the surface are these seeds of possibility
Dialogue: 0,0:17:14.84,0:17:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,waiting for the right conditions to come about,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:18.61,0:17:21.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and with organic systems, if the conditions are right,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:21.96,0:17:25.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,life is inevitable. It happens all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:25.68,0:17:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You take an area, a school, a district,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:28.28,0:17:31.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you change the conditions, give people a different sense of possibility,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:31.32,0:17:32.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a different set of expectations,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:32.99,0:17:34.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a broader range of opportunities,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:34.74,0:17:37.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you cherish and value the relationships between teachers and learners,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:37.99,0:17:40.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you offer people the discretion to be creative
Dialogue: 0,0:17:40.30,0:17:42.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and to innovate in what they do,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:42.06,0:17:45.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and schools that were once bereft spring to life.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:45.67,0:17:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Great leaders know that.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:47.33,0:17:49.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The real role of leadership in education --
Dialogue: 0,0:17:49.79,0:17:52.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think it's true at the national level, the state level,
Dialogue: 0,0:17:52.34,0:17:53.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the school level --
Dialogue: 0,0:17:53.90,0:17:58.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not and should not be command and control.
Dialogue: 0,0:17:58.30,0:18:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The real role of leadership is climate control,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:02.31,0:18:04.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating a climate of possibility.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:04.91,0:18:07.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if you do that, people will rise to it
Dialogue: 0,0:18:07.31,0:18:10.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and achieve things that you \Ncompletely did not anticipate
Dialogue: 0,0:18:10.32,0:18:12.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and couldn't have expected.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:12.12,0:18:14.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a wonderful quote from Benjamin Franklin.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:14.49,0:18:17.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"There are three sorts of people in the world:
Dialogue: 0,0:18:17.36,0:18:19.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those who are immovable,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:19.73,0:18:21.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who don't get it, they don't want to get it,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:21.60,0:18:23.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're not going to do anything about it;
Dialogue: 0,0:18:23.00,0:18:24.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are people who are movable,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:24.90,0:18:26.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who see the need for change
Dialogue: 0,0:18:26.23,0:18:28.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are prepared to listen to it;
Dialogue: 0,0:18:28.87,0:18:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there are people who move,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:30.72,0:18:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people who make things happen."
Dialogue: 0,0:18:32.50,0:18:34.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if we can encourage more people,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:34.67,0:18:37.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that will be a movement.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:37.34,0:18:39.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if the movement is strong enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:18:39.53,0:18:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that's, in the best sense of the word, a revolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:42.67,0:18:44.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's what we need.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:44.45,0:18:45.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much.
Dialogue: 0,0:18:45.68,0:18:48.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:18:48.86,0:18:53.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much. (Applause)