Now, I want to start with a question: When was last time you were called “childish”? For kids like me, being called childish can be a frequent occurrence. Every time we irrational demands, exhibit irresponsible behavior, or display any other signs being normal American citizens, we are called childish. Which really bothers me. After all, take a look 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 by such examples, age has absolutely nothing to do with it. The traits the word “childish” addresses are so 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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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,” “That costs too 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 be full of inspiring aspirations and thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry, or that 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 of Utopian ideals can be a burden, because you know that if everything were free, then the food stocks become depleted and scarce and lead to chaos. On 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 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 called Kids Design Glass, and kids draw their own ideas glass art. The resident artist said they got some of their best ideas from the program, because kids don’t think the limitations of how hard it can be to blow glass into certain shapes, they just think of good ideas. Now, when you think 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 see has meat vision.
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(Laughter)
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Now, our inherent wisdom doesn’t have to 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 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. The reality, unfortunately, is a 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 them, right? If I doubt my older sister’s ability to pay back the 10 percent interest I established on her last loan, I’m going to withhold her ability 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 this” in the school handbook, to restrictions on school Internet use. As history points out, regimes become oppressive 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, the attitude should be reciprocal, meaning the adult population should learn and take into account the wishes of 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 expectations for me and my sister. Okay, so they didn’t tell us to become doctors or lawyers or anything 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 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 you, Ma. I wrote over 300 short stories on that little laptop, and I wanted to get published. of just scoffing at this heresy that a kid wanted to get published, or saying wait 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 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 to listen 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 schools, keynoting to thousands of educators, and finally, today, speaking to you.
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I appreciate 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. Kids grow and become adults just like you.
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(Laughter)
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Or just you? Really? The goal is not to turn kids into your kind adult, but rather, better adults than you have been, which may 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 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 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 fellow TEDsters, you need to listen and learn from kids, 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 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 opportunities to lead and succeed. Are you ready to make the match? Because the world’s problems shouldn’t be human family’s heirloom.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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Thank you. Thank you.