Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last 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 signs of being normal American citizens, we are called childish. Which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these events: 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 the Holocaust. Ruby Bridges helped to end segregation in 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 the word “childish” addresses seen so often in adults, that we should abolish this age-discriminatory word, when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with and irrational thinking.
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(Applause)
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Thank you.
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Then again, who’s to 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,” “That won’t benefit me.” For better or worse, we aren’t hampered as much when it comes to thinking reasons why not to do things. Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, my wish that no one went hungry, or that were free, a kind of utopia. How many of you still dream like that, and believe in possibilities? Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of Utopian ideals can be a burden, because you know that 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 boundaries of possibility. For instance, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, my home — yoohoo, Washington!
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(Applause)
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has a program called Kids Design Glass, and kids their own ideas for glass art. The resident artist said they got some of best ideas from the program, because kids don’t think about the limitations of how hard it can be to blow glass into shapes, they just think of good ideas. Now, when you think of glass, you might think of colorful Chihuly designs, or maybe Italian vases, but kids 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 wisdom doesn’t to be insider’s knowledge. Kids already do a lot learning from adults, and we have a lot to share. I think that adults should start learning from kids. Now, do most of my speaking in front of an education crowd — teachers and students, and I like this analogy: It shouldn’t be a teacher at the head of the class, telling students, “Do this, do that.” The students should teach their teachers. Learning between grown-ups and kids should be reciprocal. The reality, unfortunately, is a little different, and it has a lot to do trust, or a lack of it.
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Now, if you don’t trust someone, you place restrictions on them, right? If I doubt my older sister’s ability to back the 10 percent interest I established on her last loan, I’m going to withhold her ability to get more from me, until she pays it back.
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(Laughter)
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True story, by way. Now, adults seem to have a prevalently restrictive attitude towards kids, from every “Don’t do that, don’t do this” in the school handbook, to restrictions on school Internet use. history points out, regimes become oppressive when they’re fearful about keeping control. And although adults may not be quite at the level of totalitarian regimes, kids no or very little say in making the rules, when really, the attitude be reciprocal, meaning that the adult population should learn and take into account the wishes of the population.
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Now, what’s even worse than restriction, is that 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, but my dad did read to about Aristotle and pioneer germ-fighters, when lots of other kids were hearing “The Wheels on the Bus 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 age of four, and when I was six, my mom bought me my own laptop equipped with Microsoft Word. Thank you, Bill Gates, and thank you, Ma. I wrote over 300 short stories on that little laptop, and I wanted to get published. Instead of just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to get published, or saying wait 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 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 that leap and trust me, and to listen to what I had to say. They published my first book, “Flying Fingers,” see it here. And from there on, it’s gone to speaking at hundreds of schools, keynoting to thousands of educators, and finally, today, speaking to you.
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I appreciate your attention today, because to show that truly care, you listen. But there’s a problem with this picture of kids being so much better than adults. Kids grow up and become adults just 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 adult, but rather, better adults than you have been, which may be a little challenging, considering guys’ credentials.
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(Laughter)
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But the way progress happens, is because new generations new eras grow and develop and become better than the ones. It’s the reason we’re not in the Dark anymore. No matter your position or place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities children, so that we can grow up to blow you away.
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(Laughter)
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Adults and fellow TEDsters, you 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 bring this world forward. And in case you don’t think that this really has meaning for you, remember that cloning is possible, that involves going through childhood again, in which case you’ll want to be heard, 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 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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you. Thank you.