Now, I want to start with a question: When the last time you were called “childish”? For kids like me, being called 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 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, Frank touched millions with her powerful account of the Holocaust. Ruby Bridges 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 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 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 grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking, “That’s impossible,” or “That costs much,” or “That won’t benefit me.” For better or worse, we kids aren’t hampered as much when it comes thinking about reasons why not to do things. Kids can full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like 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 the possibilities? Sometimes knowledge of history and the past failures of Utopian ideals can 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, kids still dream about perfection. And that’s a good thing, because in 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 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, kids draw their own ideas for glass art. The resident artist said got some of their best ideas from the program, because kids don’t think about limitations of 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 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 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 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 teacher at the head of the class, telling students, “Do this, do that.” The should teach their teachers. Learning between grown-ups and kids 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 I 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, seem to have a prevalently restrictive attitude towards kids, every “Don’t do that, don’t do this” in the school handbook, to on school Internet use. As 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 have no very little say in making the rules, when really, the attitude should be reciprocal, meaning that the adult population should learn and take into the wishes of the younger population.
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Now, what’s even worse than restriction, is that adults often underestimate kids’ abilities. We love challenges, but when expectations are low, trust me, we 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 us about Aristotle and pioneer germ-fighters, when lots of other kids were hearing “The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round.” Well, we heard that one too, “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 was six, my mom bought me my own laptop equipped with Microsoft Word. you, Bill Gates, and thank you, Ma. I wrote over 300 short stories on that little laptop, and I wanted to get published. Instead just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to 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 with children. Children’s publisher not working with children? I don’t know, you’re kind of 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 to listen to what I 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 to thousands of educators, finally, today, speaking to you.
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I appreciate your today, because to show that you truly care, you listen. But there’s problem with this rosy picture of kids being so much better than adults. Kids grow up and become 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 of adult, but rather, better adults than 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 previous ones. It’s reason we’re not in the Dark Ages anymore. No your position or place in life, it is imperative to create opportunities for children, so 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 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 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 next generation, the ones who will bring this world forward. And in case you don’t think that this really 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 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.