[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.59,0:00:04.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have spent my entire life
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.47,0:00:08.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,either at the schoolhouse, on the way to the schoolhouse,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.88,0:00:12.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or talking about what happens in the schoolhouse.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:12.64,0:00:15.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Both my parents were educators,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:15.04,0:00:17.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my maternal grandparents were educators,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.98,0:00:21.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and for the past 40 years I've done the same thing.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.92,0:00:24.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, needless to say, over those years
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.71,0:00:28.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I've had a chance to look at education reform
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.23,0:00:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a lot of perspectives.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.06,0:00:32.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of those reforms have been good.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.01,0:00:34.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of them have been not so good.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.28,0:00:36.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we know why kids drop out.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.48,0:00:37.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We know why kids don't learn.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.96,0:00:40.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's either poverty, low attendance,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.81,0:00:44.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,negative peer influences. We know why.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.89,0:00:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But one of the things that we never discuss
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.24,0:00:49.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or we rarely discuss
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.48,0:00:53.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the value and importance of human connection,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:53.74,0:00:56.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relationships.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.08,0:00:59.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,James Comer says that no significant learning
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.68,0:01:02.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can occur without a significant relationship.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.47,0:01:05.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,George Washington Carver says all learning
Dialogue: 0,0:01:05.25,0:01:09.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is understanding relationships.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.35,0:01:11.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Everyone in this room has been affected
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.75,0:01:14.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by a teacher or an adult.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:14.20,0:01:19.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For years, I have watched people teach.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.52,0:01:22.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have looked at the best and I've look at some of the worst.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.90,0:01:24.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A colleague said to me one time,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.72,0:01:26.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"They don't pay me to like the kids.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.93,0:01:29.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They pay me to teach a lesson.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.00,0:01:30.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The kids should learn it.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.30,0:01:33.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I should teach it. They should learn it. Case closed."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.93,0:01:35.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I said to her,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.82,0:01:39.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You know, kids don't learn from people they don't like."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:39.31,0:01:47.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.33,0:01:50.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She said, "That's just a bunch of hooey."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.62,0:01:53.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I said to her, "Well, your year is going to be long
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.86,0:01:56.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and arduous, dear."
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.09,0:01:58.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Needless to say it was. Some people think
Dialogue: 0,0:01:58.38,0:02:01.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you can either have it in you to build a relationship
Dialogue: 0,0:02:01.35,0:02:02.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or you don't.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.97,0:02:05.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think Stephen Covey had the right idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:05.17,0:02:08.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said you ought to just throw in a few simple things,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.72,0:02:11.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like seeking first to understand
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.02,0:02:13.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as opposed to being understood,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:13.26,0:02:16.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simple things like apologizing.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.37,0:02:17.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You ever thought about that?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.45,0:02:21.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Tell a kid you're sorry, they're in shock.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.09,0:02:23.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I taught a lesson once on ratios.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.52,0:02:27.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm not real good with math, but I was working on it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.45,0:02:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I got back and looked at that teacher edition.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.52,0:02:33.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd taught the whole lesson wrong. (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.82,0:02:35.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So I came back to class the next day, and I said,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.77,0:02:38.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Look, guys, I need to apologize.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.22,0:02:42.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I taught the whole lesson wrong. I'm so sorry."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.00,0:02:43.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They said, "That's okay, Ms. Pierson.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:43.38,0:02:45.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You were so excited, we just let you go."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.84,0:02:50.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.95,0:02:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have had classes that were so low,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.71,0:02:58.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so academically deficient that I cried.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.55,0:03:01.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I wondered, how am I going to take this group
Dialogue: 0,0:03:01.51,0:03:03.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in nine months
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.45,0:03:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from where they are to where they need to be?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.48,0:03:09.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it was difficult. It was awfully hard.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.33,0:03:12.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How do I raise the self-esteem of a child
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.70,0:03:15.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and his academic achievement at the same time?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.65,0:03:17.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One year I came up with a bright idea.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.79,0:03:19.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I told all my students,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.64,0:03:23.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"You were chosen to be in my class
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.17,0:03:24.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I am the best teacher
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.83,0:03:26.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you are the best students,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.37,0:03:27.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they put us all together
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.82,0:03:30.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so we could show everybody else how to do it."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.99,0:03:33.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the students said, "Really?"
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.29,0:03:35.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.09,0:03:38.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "Really. We have to show the other classes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.34,0:03:40.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to do it, so when we walk down the hall,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.68,0:03:43.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people will notice us, so you can't make noise.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.41,0:03:46.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You just have to strut."
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.46,0:03:49.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I gave them a saying to say: "I am somebody.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.23,0:03:50.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was somebody when I came.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:50.59,0:03:52.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll be a better somebody when I leave.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.72,0:03:54.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am powerful, and I am strong.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:54.71,0:03:57.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I deserve the education that I get here.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.40,0:03:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I have things to do, people to impress,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:59.64,0:04:01.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and places to go."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.33,0:04:04.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they said, "Yeah!"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.34,0:04:05.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You say it long enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.76,0:04:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it starts to be a part of you.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.52,0:04:15.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so — (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.56,0:04:19.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I gave a quiz, 20 questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.61,0:04:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A student missed 18.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:22.32,0:04:27.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I put a "+2" on his paper and a big smiley face.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.53,0:04:31.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "Ms. Pierson, is this an F?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.28,0:04:33.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "Yes."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.78,0:04:37.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "Then why'd you put a smiley face?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:37.08,0:04:39.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "Because you're on a roll.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.33,0:04:43.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You got two right. You didn't miss them all."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.40,0:04:45.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I said, "And when we review this,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.20,0:04:46.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,won't you do better?"
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.82,0:04:49.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He said, "Yes, ma'am, I can do better."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.35,0:04:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You see, "-18" sucks all the life out of you.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.98,0:04:55.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"+2" said, "I ain't all bad."
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.06,0:05:00.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter) (Applause)
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.84,0:05:03.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For years I watched my mother
Dialogue: 0,0:05:03.98,0:05:06.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,take the time at recess to review,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.81,0:05:09.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,go on home visits in the afternoon,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:09.63,0:05:12.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,buy combs and brushes and peanut butter and crackers
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.65,0:05:15.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to put in her desk drawer for kids that needed to eat,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.39,0:05:18.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a washcloth and some soap for the kids who didn't smell so good.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.62,0:05:22.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,See, it's hard to teach kids who stink.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.32,0:05:24.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And kids can be cruel.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.77,0:05:27.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so she kept those things in her desk,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.40,0:05:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and years later, after she retired,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:30.52,0:05:33.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I watched some of those same kids come through
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.54,0:05:35.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and say to her, "You know, Ms. Walker,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:35.53,0:05:37.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you made a difference in my life.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.95,0:05:39.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You made it work for me.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:39.28,0:05:41.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You made me feel like I was somebody,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.32,0:05:44.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when I knew, at the bottom, I wasn't.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.88,0:05:46.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I want you to just see what I've become."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.66,0:05:49.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when my mama died two years ago at 92,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.96,0:05:52.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there were so many former students at her funeral,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.79,0:05:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it brought tears to my eyes, not because she was gone,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.61,0:05:59.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but because she left a legacy of relationships
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.28,0:06:01.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that could never disappear.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:01.79,0:06:06.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can we stand to have more relationships? Absolutely.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:06.31,0:06:10.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Will you like all your children? Of course not.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.99,0:06:15.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you know your toughest kids are never absent.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.05,0:06:17.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.04,0:06:20.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Never. You won't like them all,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.14,0:06:23.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the tough ones show up for a reason.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.55,0:06:26.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's the connection. It's the relationships.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.48,0:06:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And while you won't like them all,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.12,0:06:32.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the key is, they can never, ever know it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.23,0:06:36.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So teachers become great actors and great actresses,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:36.02,0:06:38.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we come to work when we don't feel like it,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.17,0:06:41.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we're listening to policy that doesn't make sense,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.33,0:06:44.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we teach anyway.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.52,0:06:48.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We teach anyway, because that's what we do.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.58,0:06:51.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Teaching and learning should bring joy.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.73,0:06:54.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How powerful would our world be
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.28,0:06:58.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.03,0:06:59.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who were not afraid to think,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.30,0:07:00.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and who had a champion?
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.79,0:07:03.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every child deserves a champion,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:03.26,0:07:05.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,an adult who will never give up on them,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.46,0:07:08.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who understands the power of connection,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.18,0:07:12.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.09,0:07:16.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Is this job tough? You betcha. Oh God, you betcha.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.86,0:07:20.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it is not impossible.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.10,0:07:21.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can do this. We're educators.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.85,0:07:24.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We're born to make a difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.14,0:07:25.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you so much.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.53,0:07:30.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)