Every kid needs a champion | Rita Pierson | TED

Summary

In this heartfelt speech, an educator with a lifetime of experience emphasizes the pivotal role of human connection in education. She illustrates the importance of relationships in learning, citing James Comer and George Washington Carver, and shares personal anecdotes to highlight the impact teachers can have on students' lives. Through humor and empathy, she urges educators to build meaningful connections, foster self-esteem, and champion every child's potential, advocating for a joyful approach to teaching that can transform lives.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The speaker's life has been deeply intertwined with education, with a family history of educators and a 40-year career in the field.
• 🔍 There is a recognition of various factors contributing to students dropping out or not learning, such as poverty, low attendance, and negative peer influences.
• 🤝 The importance of human connection and relationships in education is highlighted, with quotes from James Comer and George Washington Carver emphasizing their significance in learning.
• 👎 The speaker challenges the notion that educators are only paid to teach lessons, not to like students, arguing that students learn better from those they like.
• 🌟 The idea that building relationships with students is not an innate ability but can be developed through simple acts like seeking to understand and apologizing is presented.
• 🤔 The speaker shares personal anecdotes of teaching, including a humorous moment of admitting a mistake to students and the positive response it received.
• 💪 The strategy of boosting students' self-esteem by creating a narrative of being part of an elite group, with a chant to reinforce their sense of self-worth and purpose.
• 📝 The use of positive reinforcement in grading, such as marking a student's paper with a '+2' and a smiley face instead of focusing on what was missed.
• 👩‍🏫 The impact of a teacher's care for students' well-being, including providing for their basic needs and the long-term influence this has on their lives.
• 😢 The emotional legacy left by educators, as illustrated by the turnout of former students at the speaker's mother's funeral, showing the lasting impact of the relationships built.
• 🌈 The call to embrace the challenge of forming meaningful relationships with students, despite the difficulties, and the belief that every child deserves a champion who won't give up on them.

Q & A

What is the speaker's background in education?

The speaker has spent their entire life involved in education, with both parents and maternal grandparents being educators, and they have been an educator for the past 40 years.

What are some of the common reasons kids drop out or don't learn according to the speaker?

The speaker mentions that common reasons for kids dropping out or not learning include poverty, low attendance, and negative peer influences.

What does James Comer believe about the relationship between learning and relationships?

James Comer believes that no significant learning can occur without a significant relationship.

What does George Washington Carver say about learning and understanding relationships?

George Washington Carver states that all learning is understanding relationships.

What does the speaker suggest is a common misconception about teaching among some educators?

The speaker suggests that some educators believe they are paid to teach lessons, not to like the kids, and that students should learn regardless of whether they like the teacher.

How does the speaker respond to the colleague who believes they are only paid to teach lessons?

The speaker counters by saying that kids don't learn from people they don't like, implying that relationships are crucial for learning.

What is the speaker's view on the ability to build relationships with students?

The speaker believes that building relationships is not an innate ability but something that can be developed and improved with simple actions like seeking to understand first and apologizing.

What did the speaker do when they realized they had taught a math lesson incorrectly?

The speaker apologized to the class the next day, admitting the mistake and expressing regret for teaching the lesson wrong.

How did the speaker attempt to raise the self-esteem and academic achievement of a class that was academically deficient?

The speaker told the students they were chosen for her class because they were the best, and she was the best teacher, creating a sense of pride and responsibility to perform well.

What strategy did the speaker use to encourage a student who missed 18 out of 20 questions on a quiz?

The speaker put a "+2" on the student's paper with a smiley face, focusing on the two questions the student got right instead of the 18 they missed.

What legacy did the speaker's mother leave behind after her death?

The speaker's mother left a legacy of relationships with her former students, many of whom came to her funeral to express how she made a difference in their lives.

What is the speaker's final message about the role of educators and the importance of relationships?

The speaker emphasizes that every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, understands the power of connection, and insists on them becoming the best they can be.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 The Power of Relationships in Education

The speaker emphasizes the profound impact of human connection and relationships in the educational setting. They recount personal experiences and family history in education, highlighting the importance of building significant relationships for effective learning. The speaker challenges the notion that educators are only paid to teach lessons, not to connect with students, and shares anecdotes that illustrate the importance of empathy, understanding, and even apologizing to students. They also discuss strategies for boosting students' self-esteem and academic performance, such as creating a positive classroom environment and instilling a sense of pride and purpose in learning.

05:01

🏆 The Legacy of a Teacher's Impact

In this paragraph, the speaker reflects on the long-term influence a teacher can have on students' lives, drawing from personal observations of their mother's dedication to education. They describe acts of kindness and support that went beyond academic teaching, such as providing for students' basic needs and creating an inclusive environment. The speaker also discusses the emotional rewards of teaching, as evidenced by the respect and gratitude expressed by former students. The paragraph concludes with a passionate call to recognize and foster the joy of teaching and learning, and the vital role of educators as champions for their students, advocating for their potential and success.

Keywords

💡Education Reform

Education reform refers to changes made in the education system to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. In the video, the speaker reflects on various reforms, noting that some have been beneficial while others have not, indicating a nuanced view of the impact of such changes on the learning environment.

💡Human Connection

Human connection emphasizes the importance of relationships in the learning process. The speaker argues that significant learning cannot occur without a significant relationship, highlighting the emotional and social aspects of education that are often overlooked in favor of academic achievement.

💡Poverty

Poverty is identified as one of the factors affecting a child's ability to learn. The speaker mentions it as a common reason for low attendance and academic struggles, illustrating the broader societal issues that can impede educational success.

💡Relationships

Relationships are central to the video's message, with the speaker asserting that learning is fundamentally about understanding relationships. The importance of building rapport with students is underscored as a key factor in effective teaching.

💡Self-Esteem

Self-esteem is the belief in one's own worth. The speaker discusses the challenge of raising a child's self-esteem while also improving their academic performance, suggesting that a positive self-image is crucial for learning and personal growth.

💡Academic Achievement

Academic achievement refers to the success of a student in educational settings, often measured by grades and test scores. The video emphasizes the need to balance academic achievement with other aspects of a student's development, such as self-esteem and personal relationships.

💡Risk-Taking

Risk-taking is the willingness to try new things and potentially make mistakes. The speaker encourages a learning environment where students are not afraid to take risks, which is essential for fostering creativity and innovation.

💡Champion

A champion, in the context of the video, is an adult who supports and believes in a child's potential, never giving up on them. The speaker argues that every child deserves a champion who understands the power of connection and insists on their best efforts.

💡Policy

Policy refers to the decisions and rules set by educational authorities that guide teaching practices. The speaker mentions listening to policy that doesn't make sense, indicating the potential disconnect between top-down mandates and the realities of the classroom.

💡Teaching

Teaching is the act of imparting knowledge, skills, and values to students. The video emphasizes the role of teachers as not just academic instructors but also as relationship builders and motivators who inspire students to reach their potential.

💡Legacy

Legacy refers to the lasting impact or influence someone has on others. The speaker shares a personal story about her mother's legacy of relationships with former students, highlighting the enduring significance of a teacher's connection with their students.

Highlights

The importance of human connection and relationships in education, as emphasized by James Comer and George Washington Carver.

The speaker's personal connection to education through their family and 40 years of experience.

The acknowledgment of various factors contributing to students dropping out or not learning, such as poverty and negative peer influences.

The assertion that children learn better from teachers they like, challenging the notion that teaching is solely about delivering content.

The idea that building relationships with students is not an innate ability but can be developed through simple acts like seeking to understand and apologizing.

A personal anecdote about admitting a mistake in teaching a math lesson and the positive student response.

The struggle and strategies for raising self-esteem and academic achievement simultaneously in a class of low-performing students.

The creative approach of telling students they were chosen for the class because they are the best, to boost their confidence.

Using positive reinforcement, such as marking a quiz with a '+2' and a smiley face instead of focusing on the negatives.

The impact of a teacher's care beyond academics, like providing basic needs for students in need, as exemplified by the speaker's mother.

The long-term influence and legacy of building relationships with students, as shown by the speaker's mother's funeral.

The recognition that not all students will be liked, but the importance of the connection regardless.

The role of teachers as actors and actresses, performing and adapting to various challenges while maintaining their dedication to teaching.

The call for joy in teaching and learning, and the potential power of a world with children unafraid to take risks and think.

The belief that every child deserves a champion - an adult who will never give up on them and understands the power of connection.

The speaker's closing remarks on the toughness of the teaching profession, but the inherent ability and calling of educators to make a difference.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Joseph Geni Reviewer: Morton Bast

I have spent my entire life

either at the schoolhouse, on the way to the schoolhouse,

or talking about what happens in the schoolhouse.

(Laughter)

Both my parents were educators,

my maternal grandparents were educators,

and for the past 40 years, I've done the same thing.

And so, needless to say, over those years

I've had a chance to look at education reform

from a lot of perspectives.

Some of those reforms have been good.

Some of them have been not so good.

And we know why kids drop out.

We know why kids don't learn.

It's either poverty, low attendance,

negative peer influences...

We know why.

But one of the things that we never discuss

or we rarely discuss

is the value and importance of human connection.

Relationships.

James Comer says that no significant learning

can occur without a significant relationship.

George Washington Carver says all learning

is understanding relationships.

Everyone in this room has been affected by a teacher or an adult.

For years, I have watched people teach.

I have looked at the best and I've looked at some of the worst.

A colleague said to me one time,

"They don't pay me to like the kids.

They pay me to teach a lesson.

The kids should learn it.

I should teach it, they should learn it,

Case closed."

Well, I said to her,

"You know, kids don't learn from people they don't like."

(Laughter)

(Applause)

She said, "That's just a bunch of hooey."

And I said to her,

"Well, your year is going to be long and arduous, dear."

Needless to say, it was.

Some people think that you can either have it in you to build a relationship,

or you don't.

I think Stephen Covey had the right idea.

He said you ought to just throw in a few simple things,

like seeking first to understand,

as opposed to being understood.

Simple things, like apologizing.

You ever thought about that?

Tell a kid you're sorry, they're in shock.

(Laughter)

I taught a lesson once on ratios.

I'm not real good with math, but I was working on it.

(Laughter)

And I got back and looked at that teacher edition.

I'd taught the whole lesson wrong.

(Laughter)

So I came back to class the next day and I said,

"Look, guys, I need to apologize.

I taught the whole lesson wrong. I'm so sorry."

They said, "That's okay, Ms. Pierson.

You were so excited, we just let you go."

I have had classes that were so low,

so academically deficient, that I cried.

I wondered, "How am I going to take this group,

in nine months,

from where they are to where they need to be?

And it was difficult, it was awfully hard.

How do I raise the self-esteem of a child

and his academic achievement at the same time?

One year I came up with a bright idea.

I told all my students,

"You were chosen to be in my class

because I am the best teacher

and you are the best students,

they put us all together

so we could show everybody else how to do it."

One of the students said, "Really?"

(Laughter)

I said, "Really. We have to show the other classes

how to do it, so when we walk down the hall,

people will notice us, so you can't make noise.

You just have to strut."

(Laughter)

And I gave them a saying to say:

"I am somebody.

I was somebody when I came.

I'll be a better somebody when I leave.

I am powerful, and I am strong.

I deserve the education that I get here.

I have things to do, people to impress,

and places to go."

And they said, "Yeah!"

(Laughter)

You say it long enough,

it starts to be a part of you.

(Applause)

I gave a quiz, 20 questions.

A student missed 18.

I put a "+2" on his paper and a big smiley face.

(Laughter)

He said, "Ms. Pierson, is this an F?"

I said, "Yes."

(Laughter)

He said, "Then why'd you put a smiley face?"

I said, "Because you're on a roll.

You got two right. You didn't miss them all."

(Laughter)

I said, "And when we review this, won't you do better?"

He said, "Yes, ma'am, I can do better."

You see, "-18" sucks all the life out of you.

"+2" said, "I ain't all bad."

For years, I watched my mother take the time at recess to review,

go on home visits in the afternoon,

buy combs and brushes and peanut butter and crackers

to put in her desk drawer for kids that needed to eat,

and a washcloth and some soap for the kids who didn't smell so good.

See, it's hard to teach kids who stink.

(Laughter)

And kids can be cruel.

And so she kept those things in her desk,

and years later, after she retired,

I watched some of those same kids come through

and say to her, "You know, Ms. Walker,

you made a difference in my life.

You made it work for me.

You made me feel like I was somebody,

when I knew, at the bottom, I wasn't.

And I want you to just see what I've become."

And when my mama died two years ago at 92,

there were so many former students at her funeral,

it brought tears to my eyes, not because she was gone,

but because she left a legacy of relationships

that could never disappear.

Can we stand to have more relationships?

Absolutely.

Will you like all your children? Of course not.

(Laughter)

And you know your toughest kids are never absent.

(Laughter)

Never.

You won't like them all,

and the tough ones show up for a reason.

It's the connection. It's the relationships.

So teachers become great actors and great actresses,

and we come to work when we don't feel like it,

and we're listening to policy that doesn't make sense,

and we teach anyway.

We teach anyway, because that's what we do.

Teaching and learning should bring joy.

How powerful would our world be

if we had kids who were not afraid to take risks,

who were not afraid to think,

and who had a champion?

Every child deserves a champion,

an adult who will never give up on them,

who understands the power of connection,

and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.

Is this job tough? You betcha.

Oh God, you betcha.

But it is not impossible.

We can do this. We're educators.

We're born to make a difference.

Thank you so much.

(Applause)