Now, I want to start with a question: When was the last time you were called “childish”? kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every we make irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs of being normal American citizens, 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 Bridges helped to end in the United States. And, most recently, Charlie Simpson helped to raise 120,000 pounds for Haiti, on his little bike. So you can see evidenced by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. The traits the word “childish” addresses are seen so often in adults, that we should abolish this age-discriminatory word, when it comes to criticizing behavior 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 grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking, “That’s impossible,” or “That costs too much,” or “That won’t benefit me.” For better or worse, we kids aren’t hampered as when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. Kids can be full of aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry, or everything were free, a kind of utopia. How many of you still dream like that, and believe in the 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 stocks would become depleted and scarce and lead to chaos. On the other hand, we kids still dream 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 to imagine helps push the boundaries of possibility. For instance, the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington, my home state — yoohoo, Washington!
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(Applause)
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has a program called Kids Design Glass, and kids draw their own ideas for glass art. The artist said they got some of their best ideas from the program, because kids don’t think about the limitations how hard it can be to blow glass into certain shapes, they just think of good ideas. Now, when you think of glass, you might think of colorful Chihuly designs, or maybe vases, but kids challenge glass artists to go beyond that, into the realm brokenhearted snakes and bacon boys, who you can see meat vision.
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(Laughter)
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Now, our wisdom 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 that adults should start learning from kids. Now, I 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 the class, telling students, “Do this, do that.” The students should teach their teachers. between 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 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 pay back the 10 percent interest established on her last loan, I’m going to 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 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. As history points out, regimes become when they’re fearful about keeping control. And although adults may not be quite at the level of totalitarian regimes, kids have no or very little say in making the rules, when really, attitude should be reciprocal, meaning that the adult population learn and take into account the wishes of the younger population.
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Now, what’s even worse than restriction, is adults often underestimate kids’ abilities. We love challenges, but when expectations are low, trust me, we will sink to them. My own parents had anything but expectations for me and my sister. Okay, so they didn’t tell to become doctors or lawyers or anything like that, but my dad did read to us about Aristotle and germ-fighters, when lots of other 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 age four, and when I was six, my mom bought me my own equipped with Microsoft Word. Thank you, Bill Gates, and 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, parents were really supportive. Many publishers were not quite so encouraging. large children’s publisher ironically said that they didn’t work with children. Children’s publisher not 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 me, and to listen to what I had to say. They published my book, “Flying Fingers,” you see it here. And from there on, it’s gone to 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 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 just like you.
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(Laughter)
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Or just like you? Really? goal is not to turn kids into your kind of adult, but rather, better adults than you have been, which be a little challenging, considering your guys’ credentials.
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(Laughter)
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But the way happens, is because new generations and new eras grow and develop and become better than the previous ones. It’s the reason we’re not in the Dark Ages anymore. No matter 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 fellow TEDsters, you need to listen and from kids, and trust us and expect more from us. You must an ear today, because we are the leaders of tomorrow, which means we’re going to take care of you you’re old and senile. No, just kidding.
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(Laughter)
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No, really, we are to be the next generation, the ones who will bring this world forward. And in case you don’t think that this really has meaning for you, remember that cloning is possible, and that involves going through childhood again, in which 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 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.