Celebrating resilience - reframing the narrative around our students: Clint Smith at TEDxManhattan

[@Punishe97]

That's my 10th grade English teacher. I'm very happy to say so.

[@EileenKugler]

So glad I discovered this gifted and committed teacher. Powerful, powerful words. "So often we focus on the quicksand and fail to see what has refused to drown." Amen.

[@lunalea1250]

So thankful I have a village/ my "Mr. Smith's" in my life as a child!🙏🏾💚💥

[@meletaufahema7995]

I wish I had him as a teacher.

[@DiscGolfFA]

my man. my brother. more than just teachers should watch this.

[@audreykippen5740]

"food" for thought for all educators!

[@deniedulin119]

Awe- inspiring...you have a rare gift that I hope you will share forever...

[@arnitabryant9655]

Such enlightened WORDS. When put in a poem it reaches the heights of well formed words that REACHES the minds and hearts of many.

[@castelljohnson8661]

A wonderful message for teachers who are preparing for the new school year. Let students use their narrative writing to bravely tell their stories. They could be the next Lois Lowry.

[@Kiwigd]

Thank you Clint for all the good you do. A wonderful talk.

[@Christine29731]

We need to hear talks such as this - firstly to bring it to our consciousness, then take the next step of how we start to change this. We are responsible for the next step

[@Funandconsciousness]

Clint, you are a fabulously caring and communicative person! Your students and this world are truly blessed having you being you and doing your thing!!

[@zacharytaylor3200]

way to bridge poetry, education, with food and memory and story telling...i love this conversation.

[@lisaengelbrektson]

Profound message - powerful delivery.

[@KSangel180]

Amazing!

[@n.o.mcitizenoftheworld]

:') this just really state what i see as a student and no teacher dear to talk and fight for :) Thank you! Great Speaker

[@pamelasellers5980]

Amazing. Preach.

[@congruent-thoughts8781]

Yes! Whoow! You guy rock! I was coming from Denmark going to Germany and around Europe, Asia and Australia, with all the organic stores - coming to Norway. It was the same shock to me, like you are talking about. A desert of unhealthy food. Studying few years ago on UC Santa Cruz my heart and body and mind was exited again from day one. With all the healthy organic food on this amazing University did give me hope again. Also the shops in Santa Cruz flowing over with organic food and everything you can dream of. Also the way everybody was talking to each other did give me hope and I give it to my students in Norway today. Focusing on every little progress and the good, will outperform all that is useless. So I do agree, There is a desert and a wasteland of unhealthy food in the western world, but there are also uplifting Oases I have seen and experienced, who gives me hope. Lets connect the oases in the world and let the wasteland and the desert be a part of a dying industrial era...!

[@JessyKaye]

'Bout time a talk like this was at TED with all those wealthy people there.

[@fabbym4160]

wow!!! amazing!

[@crystallittle1406]

Snap, Snap!!

[@zacharytaylor3200]

"Let us speak of humanity"...OK!

[@marigeobrien]

Teachers tend to see the worst because they have to deal with the worst so much more often that their view becomes skewed. Just like police. They never see the good child so they forget the good children because they fade into the background. Worst of all, the good children that want to gain attention see that, to do so, they should act badly. It's a cycle and it has to change. They must take a step back and think hard about what to do... they must also assume that, while there may be problems at home, those problems are not necessarily bad parenting. I, as a parent, have found that today's teachers too easily assume it is the parent at fault... but they don't bother to know either parent or child. They only see the parents who go "back to school night" and attend all sorts of events. What about the single parent who has to work nights? Who cannot afford to take a night off if they want to buy groceries that week. Or pay for gas. No one considers that a good parent is not always a rich parent and that, increasingly, the stipulations of the school require rich parents. For instance, in my children's school system, if they wanted to be part of a school team, they had to attend practice 5 afternoons a week. Meanwhile, the late bus only ran 3 days a week. So, in essence, the school sports program was only available to those who could depend on someone to pick them up two night a week. Or, someone who was home at 4:00. Who would that be, if both parents were working until 5:00? Or, if a single parent had to work until 5:00 then spend an hour commuting home? Who? So, guess what? My kids couldn't participate in the sports programs, at all. And they were angry.

[@cylcowenshen]

Could you not ask another family? After all, humans are here for each other.

[@marigeobrien]

No, Owen, in my case I couldn't. Mostly because, in my part of the country, it is common to work far from home. Commuting an hour or two each day is not uncommon. The result is that no one ever sees other parents and knows little about them... certainly not enough to ask for a ride or even know who to ask. It's not good. My point is, it is easy to blame the unknown parent. But not fair or just. But, I take heart. My kids did well in school and have now both graduated from college and have good jobs in their vocations.

[@cylcowenshen]

You should be an activist and make that interaction happen :D

[@pugilemoltobene3708]

Yeah, was recently required by my institution to attend and interact at a small event with this dude. I find him annoying and inflammatory. Equality in the classroom can be achieved by increasing motivation, giving students a reason to achieve, making every effort to maximize exposure to core content material, and allowing every opportunity to learn. Anyone can do it, very few do. We don’t need Clint smith to tell us this.

[@CanMetan]

He listened to too much rap apparently...... He's talking about serious matters and this is not a good way to talk.

[@meaganwoodruff9374]

And it's not okay to use a different, interesting medium to talk about serious issues? In my opinion, it's a good way to get different people engaged. His poetry is often very powerful in the way I engage with it.

[@susanc2022]

+Kazathul "..listened to too much rap"??? Seriously?? Rap has never been this eloquent. This is pure poetry which vastly pre-dates the stereotypical box you're trying to force this man into. And since when should teachers suppress their creativity, but expect creative thinking from their students?? smh...

[@CanMetan]

Susan Clay Than you've no clue about what "pure poetry" is. I hate it when people get over zealous about someone. If you like it, fine. Why do you have to enforce your opinions to somebody else? This is what I think and I'm free to think whatever the hell I want. Doing this makes you look bad, don't do it in real life. Also this just a guy who's apparently gone through some pain. *Real pain* won't make you write sissy poetry. When you're in real pain, you won't even be able to shout, you won't be able to cry, you wouldn't even *THINK* about writing cry baby "poetry" that rhymes at the end of each sentence. You suffer in tears, holding your breath, suffocating in it, in silence. You wish you'd be dead instead of going through it. This? Please.......... "Forcing him into a box". And I am entitled to my opinion, you are entitled to yours, not forcing anything. I'm just looking down on his artsy / try hard / poser "suffering". I can easily put 40 bpm beat behind his speech and he's already walking like a rapper. I'm sure he'd make a duet with "Kanye" after that : ) Suffering my ass.

[@susanc2022]

Hmm...now I'm confused? You voiced your opinion on a social platform and now you're mad because someone responded to it?? Wasn't that the point? Wow.... Apparently I must be out of the loop?! Enlighten me- please, tell me what "pure poetry" is. Please tell me what "real pain" is. Please tell me what "sissy poetry" is. Please explain how "rappers walk"; and please tell me why you're entitled to "look down on his artistry"? I can name a million and one things that I don't particularly care for in the arts, in education, and in society-at-large, but "looking down" on something?? As if....

[@CanMetan]

Susan Clay You're asking too much that wouldn't fit in a comment section. If nothing, no culture, no behavioral patterns are inferior to you (including crimes) than I would start looking at why people behave certain ways and how culture is formed through the people living in the same society. If you study both social psychology and personality psychology, you will understand why people feel the need to behave a certain way. "Rap" is a result of such an urge. Punk and metalheads too.