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, 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: 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 segregation 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 it. The traits the word “childish” addresses are seen often in adults, that we should abolish this age-discriminatory word, when 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 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 or 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 of utopia. How many of you still dream like that, and 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 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, 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 state — yoohoo, Washington!
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(Applause)
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has a program called Kids Design Glass, and kids draw their own for glass art. The resident artist said they got some of their best from the program, because kids don’t think about the limitations of how 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 Chihuly designs, or maybe Italian vases, but kids challenge glass artists to go beyond that, into the realm 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 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 should teach their teachers. Learning between grown-ups and kids should be reciprocal. reality, unfortunately, is a little different, and it has 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 back the 10 percent interest I established on her last loan, I’m to withhold her ability to get more money from me, until 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 school handbook, to restrictions on school Internet use. As points out, regimes become oppressive when they’re fearful about keeping control. although adults may not be quite at the level of totalitarian regimes, have no or very little say in making the rules, when really, the attitude should be reciprocal, meaning that adult population should learn and take into account 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 will sink to them. My own parents had anything but low for me and my sister. Okay, so they didn’t tell us to become 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 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 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 to get published, or saying wait until you’re older, my parents were really supportive. Many publishers were not quite so encouraging. One 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 large client there.
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(Laughter)
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One publisher, Action Publishing, willing to take that leap and trust me, and to listen to I had to say. They published my first book, “Flying Fingers,” you see 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 appreciate your attention today, because to show that you truly care, you listen. But there’s a problem with this rosy picture of kids being so much better than adults. 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 of adult, but rather, 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 eras grow and develop and become better than the previous ones. It’s the reason we’re not in the 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 you away.
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(Laughter)
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Adults and TEDsters, you need to listen and learn from kids, and trust and expect more from us. You must lend an 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 going 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 which case you’ll want to be heard, just my generation. Now, the world needs opportunities for new leaders and new ideas. Kids need opportunities to lead succeed. Are you ready to make the match? Because the world’s problems shouldn’t the human family’s heirloom.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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Thank you. Thank you.