Now, I want to start with a question: When was the time you were called “childish”? For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other of being normal American citizens, we are called childish. Which really bothers me. After all, a look at these events: Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself, who’s responsible? Adults.
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Now, what have kids done? Well, Anne Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust. Ruby helped to end segregation in the United States. And, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti, on his little bike. So as you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. The traits word “childish” addresses are seen so often in adults, that we should abolish this age-discriminatory word, it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking.
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(Applause)
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Thank you.
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Then again, who’s to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren’t exactly what the world needs? Maybe you’ve had plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking, “That’s impossible,” or “That costs too much,” or “That won’t benefit me.” For better worse, we kids aren’t hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry, or that everything were free, a kind of utopia. How many of still dream like that, and believe in the possibilities? Sometimes knowledge of history and the past failures of Utopian ideals can be a burden, because you know if everything were free, then the food stocks would become depleted and scarce and lead to chaos. On the other hand, we kids still dream about perfection. And that’s a good thing, because in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.
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In many ways, our audacity to imagine helps push the of possibility. For instance, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, my state — yoohoo, Washington!
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(Applause)
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a program called Kids Design Glass, and kids draw their own ideas for glass art. The resident artist said they some of their best ideas from the program, because kids don’t think about the limitations of how hard it can be to blow glass into certain shapes, just think of good ideas. Now, when you think of glass, you might think of colorful Chihuly designs, or maybe Italian vases, but kids challenge glass artists to go beyond that, into the realm of brokenhearted snakes and bacon boys, who you can see has meat vision.
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(Laughter)
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Now, our inherent doesn’t have to be insider’s knowledge. Kids already do a lot of learning from adults, and we have a lot to share. I think that should start learning from kids. Now, I do most of my speaking in front an education crowd — teachers and students, and I like this analogy: It shouldn’t be a at the head of the class, telling students, “Do this, do that.” The students should teach their teachers. Learning grown-ups and kids should be reciprocal. The reality, unfortunately, is a little different, and it has a lot to do with trust, or a lack it.
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Now, if you don’t trust someone, you place restrictions on them, right? I doubt my older sister’s ability to pay back the 10 percent interest I established on her last loan, I’m going withhold her ability to get more money from me, until she pays it back.
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(Laughter)
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True story, by the way. Now, adults seem to have a restrictive attitude towards kids, from every “Don’t do that, don’t do this” in school handbook, to restrictions on school Internet use. As history points out, become oppressive when they’re fearful about keeping control. And although adults may be quite at the level of totalitarian regimes, kids no or very little say in making the rules, when really, attitude should be reciprocal, meaning that the adult population should and take into account the wishes of the younger population.
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Now, what’s worse than restriction, is that adults often underestimate kids’ abilities. We love challenges, but when expectations are low, me, we will sink to them. My own parents had anything but low expectations for me and my sister. Okay, so they didn’t tell us to become doctors or lawyers or anything like that, my dad did read to us about Aristotle and pioneer germ-fighters, when lots of kids were hearing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.” Well, we heard that one too, but “Pioneer Germ Fighters” totally rules.
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(Laughter)
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I loved to write from the of four, and when I was six, my mom me my own laptop equipped with Microsoft Word. Thank you, Bill Gates, thank you, Ma. I wrote over 300 short stories on that laptop, and I wanted to get published. Instead of just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to get published, or saying until you’re older, my parents were really supportive. Many publishers were not quite so encouraging. One large children’s publisher ironically said that they didn’t work with children. Children’s publisher not working with children? I don’t know, you’re kind of alienating a large client there.
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(Laughter)
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One publisher, Action Publishing, was willing to take that leap and trust me, and listen to what I had to say. They published my first book, “Flying Fingers,” you see it here. And from there on, it’s gone to speaking at hundreds of schools, keynoting thousands of educators, and finally, today, speaking to you.
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I your attention today, because to show that you truly care, you listen. But there’s a problem with this rosy picture kids being so much better than adults. Kids grow up and become adults like you.
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(Laughter)
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Or just like you? Really? The goal is not to turn kids into your kind of adult, but rather, better adults than you have been, which may be a little challenging, considering your guys’ credentials.
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(Laughter)
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But the way progress happens, is because new generations and new grow and develop and become better than the previous ones. It’s the reason we’re in the Dark Ages anymore. No matter your position or place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities for children, so that we can grow up to blow you away.
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(Laughter)
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Adults and TEDsters, you need to listen and learn from kids, and trust us and expect more from us. You must lend an ear today, because we are the leaders of tomorrow, which means we’re going to take care of you when you’re old and senile. No, just kidding.
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(Laughter)
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No, really, we are going to be the next generation, the ones who will bring this world forward. And in case you don’t think this really has meaning for you, remember that cloning is possible, and that involves going through childhood again, in case you’ll want to be heard, just like my generation. Now, the world needs opportunities for new leaders and new ideas. Kids need opportunities to lead and succeed. Are you ready to make the match? Because the world’s problems shouldn’t be the human family’s heirloom.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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Thank you. Thank you.