In case you have not yet stumbled across TED, then its worth at least a day, a week, as much time as you can afford to spare. Here is the top 10 TED talks list – I really enjoyed the Hans Rosling talk, but I have also shown my students Richard St John and it was the first place I watched Sir Ken Robinson Speak.
Today, I listened to Bill Gates – from 10 minutes in he perked my attention when his theme turned to education. Despite its UScentric slant, the content is still pertinent.
Low income students have a higher chance of going to jail than getting a degree.
Top quartile teachers improve student performance by 10% (11 mins 30s).
Top teachers are not necessarily experienced teachers. Supported by the fact that teacher effectiveness variation is minimal after three years of teaching.
The graph shown at 12 mins 50s is informative in itself – see for yourself.
Slightly better teachers leave the system.
KIPP gets itself back on the agenda – (Knowledge is Power)
If all the above does not convince to invest some time, then this poem is just beautiful.
Tomorrow’s Child
Without a name; an unseen face
and knowing not your time nor place
Tomorrow’s Child, though yet unborn,
I met you first last Tuesday morn.
A wise friend introduced us two,
and through his sobering point of view
I saw a day that you would see;
a day for you, but not for me
Knowing you has changed my thinking,
for I never had an inkling
That perhaps the things I do
might someday, somehow, threaten you
Tomorrow’s Child, my daughter-son
I’m afraid I’ve just begun
To think of you and of your good,
Though always having known I should.
Begin I will to weigh the cost
of what I squander; what is lost
If ever I forget that you
will someday come to live here too.
© Glenn Thomas (I hope he doesnt mind me posting it?)