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Every. Educator. Must. Watch. This. NOW!
69 CommentsThis powerful little guy was the keynote speaker at Dallas ISD’s back to school convocation, yesterday, August 25th. I’ve tried to find out more about him, but I can’t, which is in many ways a good thing because he’s just a kid.
Make no mistake – Dalton Sherman is no ordinary 5th grader. He is extraordinary in every way. He could have just as easily been addressing a major political party convention.
His message, his delivery, his passion, his enthusiasm cannot be described in words. So incredibly powerful!
Thank you, Craig Nansen, for sharing!
Note: if the video does not play because YouTube is blocked in your district, please click here. The full text of his speech is available here.
Published on August 26, 2008 · Filed under: Inspirational;
69 Responses to “Every. Educator. Must. Watch. This. NOW!”
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Corrie Bergeron said on August 26th, 2008 at 9:31 am
“I’ve tried to find out more about him, but I can’t, which is in many ways a good thing because he’s just a kid.”
Give it about ten years; I suspect you’ll be hearing a lot more about him.
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Totally agree with that, Corrie. Wonder where he’ll end up? Politics? Entertainment? Business? Education? The mind boggles. Wonder what he’s like in person? Probably very difficult to contain all that energy!
Watching the kid work the stage, I see many influences on him. Mass media. Family. Faith. School. Society overall. Wise beyond his years.
The Force is strong with this one!
-kj-
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Gave me chills – we need them all to feel this same strength, and confidence. There may be hope for us after all.
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Unbelievably powerful. I do wish that same confidence for all the students with whom I work (struggling learners, many on IEPs).
So fortunate that this was taped and made available to all of us via YouTube. I anticipate he’ll be making the rounds of the morning news shows so we can learn more about him.
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Awesome! One question though, who brings an air horn to a district assembly?
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Great video. Amazing delivery with memorization. I will pass along to my admin. We are using the Paul Potts video at our welcome back all-district meeting to showcase the shock of preconception and expectation being shattered, this would work well in the same theme… Thanks Kevin!
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This is amazing and I plan to share it with a number of administrators and teachers in my district.
I find it interesting that as I was watching it, though, I felt my cynicism rising and had to fight off the urge to brush it off as idealistic glurge while thinking, “Yeah, well, this is just one kid. What about all the rest of them…?”
I’m glad the cynic in me didn’t win, though. I honestly feel that if I can believe in my students and professional colleagues the way Dalton believes in himself and encourages his teachers to believe in him, any one of the students in my district could have been up there on that stage doing what he did. Any of them.
Now, all that’s left is to find a way to keep that attitude past the first week of school….
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I don’t want to be a wet blanket, but…
The kid sure is self-confident and fearless, like many kids of his age.
There is a long tradition of child evangelists. Dalton certainly represents a new member of that tradition. Al Sharpton was a licensed and ordained Pentecostal minister at age nine.
As President Bush recommends, I “used the Google,” to learn the following about Dalton:
“Staff at DISD headquarters put the speech together for Dalton to memorize, and he worked over the summer to get it down.” http://tinyurl.com/6yuxjm
“Dalton’s speech was directed toward teachers. We need you,” he told them. They played a big role in preparing him for his big performance. Both his oratory coach from school, Irene Redmond, a fourth-grade teacher, and mother Donna Sherman, a DISD fifth-grade teacher, coached him all summer in preparation for his performance. They focus on proper diction and pronunciation of words.”
http://tinyurl.com/5c757aI love the kid and admire his passion, energy and work ethic. However, it would be a huge mistake to generalize any grand theory of education from him being used as a prop in a publicity stunt created by a his school district.
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Hi Gary! Thanks for commenting.
No one, in my view at least, is “generaliz[ing] any grand theory of education” from his performance. I also “love the kid and admire his passion, energy and work ethic.” I also love the message, it spoke to me, even if he was the deliverer, and not the author.
And I don’t consider it a publicity stunt. I consider it an inspirational message delivered powerfully by a beautiful example of the very children we are dedicating our lives to educate.
-kj-
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Also, Gary, thanks for digging up those links with the backstory. I tried and failed – mostly because I didn’t have his name before I posted (I was too excited, a common (and often well deserved) criticism of the blogosphere. I plead guilty as charged. :|
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Gary,
I don’t think anyone who watched it would have mistaken this for something that Dalton initiated and created on his own. I think it was quite obvious that the speech was written by adults for adults, and that he was very well coached to deliver the address.
But isn’t that what we’re about? Coaching students to learn real world skills and to understand real life issues? Think about it from Dalton’s point of view for a moment. He has undoubtedly learned a great deal about public speaking and persuasion (two things that are key components of my state’s academic standards). I’m sure he has gained significant insight into the adults in his life and how they tick.
Just because a motivational speaker is well-prepared, well-rehearsed, and uses good diction and a speech writer doesn’t invalidate the message he is delivering. Hmm…now that I think about it, that sounds an awful lot like another gathering going on in Denver this week.
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Would any of the speakers or presenters at the recent NECC conference go in front of a group unprepared? Would the impact of a professionally engaged speaker have generated the audience enthusiasm or generated the discussion that this young man did? Thanks to Kevin for starting it.
Undaunted, this student stood in front of teachers and let loose with an emotional 8 minutes that would have created a stir in the audience as it has on the internet since the event.
I posted to my blog http://dougpete.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/is-it-the-medium-or-the-message/ my thoughts and would suggest that had I been in the audience, I would have pictured myself as a teacher of students like Dalton.
There he stood, in a bullring, surrounded by his educational system (and the world), with no internet, no Powerpoint and delivered his presentation from the hip. Kudos have to go to him and to the district that devised the concept.
The challenge to the district will be to follow through with the support for every teacher in the audience to help them “believe”. It will be interesting to follow.
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He could have had PowerPoint had he wanted or needed it — Superintendent Hinjosa spent nearly an hour before in a death-by-PowerPoint presentation.
As I noted at Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub (thanks for the link, Gary Stager), that the Dallas ISD bothered to set this up is encouraging — publicity stunt? What else can major district offices do these days?
Teachers in Dallas who have been through many of these things thought Sherman’s presentation was the highlight, and the most encouraging part of the entire affair. Probably not worth the money spent, but not cynical in any way.
District support for teachers? Yeah, that would be something to see. Dalton Sherman offered the hope someone at the district office might see it that way, too.
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Just imagine if every child got extra help, extra preparation, got to work with a teacher all summer on proper language and pronunciation…
Not a publicity stunt, but a wonderful way to show us what can happen if a student is in some kind of school all year, all summer. While I may get flamed for saying so, maybe we should look at getting rid of the summer break.
I’m pretty sure no one thought he went in without coaching, or that he wrote it on his own. However, it’s a little better than the district who brought in the Freedom Writers Author and then fired a teacher for tossing the text book and handing out copies of the Freedom Writers.
The paradigm shift for all here should be… Education doesn’t stop at 3PM, and Education should be a part of every home. It would actually be more powerful if the background was given at the end, white words against a black screen, “This is what can happen if teachers and parents work together to polish every student and bring out their potential”
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Just Another Teacher said on August 29th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Is anyone else wondering what it would be like to have Dalton in class? Now that he’s had a taste of grandstanding, I can’t imagine it’d be easy to contain the desire for that attention. I thought it was a moving, emotional speech that played well, according to the way it was designed. I also think that our teachers need more realistic, practical approaches to implementing all of the motivational ideas we’re presented with. “Believing” is great, but what are we going to “do”? And, what is the back up plan when all of our believing has failed, because there will be students for whom our believing isn’t enough. Of course, there will be great successes. But there will also be failures, because each student has their own agency and determination. Do we shoulder those failures the same way we shoulder the successes?
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Sameer said on August 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This is simply awesome! Kevin, You are right every one of in the field of education should watch this! Amazing!
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Denise Banks said on August 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
It doesn’t matter that he did not write this speech. He delivered it from the heart and I believed what he was saying whether he had anything to do with writing it or not. HOW POWERFUL was his delivery!!!
I am ready to continue my quest to be a better teacher for ALL students and this speech has inspired me beyond words!
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Chip Kimball said on September 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 am
Gary et al,
It seems to be that if the attention is focused on Dalton’s performance alone (even his tremendous passion), whether prepared for him or not, the point has been missed.
Students rarely have a voice in our system. More importantly, students are frequently dismissed and ignored by a system of adults that do not fundamentally believe that ALL students are capable of growth and accomplishment. Dalton’s speech is a desperately plea, speaking for all students, to set aside differences of opinion and educational politics and remember why we are in this business. I will be sharing this with our 1500 plus teachers.
For anyone interested in the importance of beliefs and it’s impact upon students, read MINDSET by Carol Dweck.
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Just a substitute-teacher said on September 4th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
“Just Another Teacher” is right. He sounds great, but let’s put it to work. He mentions that the job of being his teacher and the teacher of his pears is the most important job for his life. What about his parents? I would surely like to think that I’M the most important teacher in my children’s lives. Perhaps certain teachers along the way shaped them as well, but most certainly the most consistent people in any child’s life should be his/her parents. I get tired of having to teach parents how to be parents when I have their children in school! What happened to parents? Why is this generation of parents not doing their job? Why do so many of them want to be “friends” to their kids?
Anyway, off my soap box. The child sounded great, but it looked really scripted to me. It’s not going to be easy to keep him quiet in school! He’ll be giving speeches on the playground!!
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Malissa Parker said on September 5th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
This little guy is truly an inspiration to everyone, especially kids of his own age. The communities need his kind of spirit.
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Forever a Student said on September 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
It’s so funny that someone made a point that the young man’s speech was scripted — authored by someone other than himself. When was the last time the President of the U.S., politicians, or even CEOs and heads of medical and legal departments actually wrote and edited their own speeches or performed them off-the-cuff? Hardly ever — maybe never.
Despite all of the unpleasant truths that lie beneath the meaning of the speech, let’s praise the fact that people were motivated by it. The young man was enriched and became a better student and person through his coaching and performance. The people that coached the young man were obviously motivated and blessed by the fruit of their investment in this child –as well as the crowd who received the speech. It was spectacular, no matter how you look at it.
So many other children want the opportunity to be able to excel in the same way. But it takes having an example of what one can achieve. No one can force anyone to learn, you can only inspire them to want to. No one can force anyone to be a motivated teacher — you can only inspire the teacher to want to be a positive change agent — despite the challenges. (Making the right tools available for teachers is a different argument for a different platform.) And yes, the public educational systems are war zones, and the teachers and principals are soldiers. But there are still people that need and want to be saved by education and many who still want to be inspired. So let’s leave all of the academic critical analysis behind. You can’t deny that this was a good thing and we are all inspired.
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Forever a Student said on September 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Also, for anyone who is dealing with the secondary trauma of students I have a great book recommendation. Trauma Stewardship: Caring for others while caring for self — by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky. This book is awesome. It’s funny, so down to earth, and easy to read. It’s geared towards professionals who have accumulated stress or people working in the public sector who deal with a lot of other people’s traumas and stresses on a day to day basis. Great for teachers, nurses, doctors, paramedics, social workers, etc. It’s soon to be re-published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
http://www.bkconnection.com -
Chip, et al…
Compelling a kid to recite carefully prepared adult propaganda is NOT their own voice. It is the most inauthentic form of expression imaginable.
You are correct. There are serious issues in public education that need to be addressed. How does Dalton’s performance address these needs?
I sure hope that your 1,500 teachers are not as insulted by Dalton’s presentation as I was.
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Hey Gary, thanks for dropping in again. I thought Sylvia Martinez did an excellent job presenting the “con” side of this issue in her blog post, “Believe in…” Since I know you and Sylvia personally, I know that both of you share a passion for education, authenticity/transparency, and especially for children, dedicating your professional lives to those pursuits. I understand what you (and Sylvia, et. al.) are saying – I just don’t happen to agree.
I feel a connection to Dalton’s message and performance, and like others here who have commented before, the fact that it was scripted and rehearsed does not diminish its value *TO ME* one iota. What does Dalton’s performance do to address the needs of public education? It inspires *SOME* (but apparently not *ALL*) of us to carry on, to not give up when our days are difficult, to remember that we are here for the children, and remind us why we chose this profession, to make a difference in the lives of young people. A simple lift of our spirits. Nothing more.
Like blind men encountering an elephant, each of our own professional realities color what we see and feel in response to Dalton’s performance. At the end of the day, all we can do is agree to disagree.
Looking forward to seeing you and Sylvia at EduCon in January.
Best,
-kj-
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Pam Rochell said on September 10th, 2008 at 10:38 am
This little guy is awesome!!! God has truly blessed him with the talent to speak!! I was wonderfully encouraged by his courage. Keep up the good work Dalton!!
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brian mcafee said on September 10th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I am thoroughly impressed. Being a teacher in Cleveland, Ohio , certified
in administeration,reading k-12 Social Studies and vocational educatio n /electronics I am ready to relocate to Dallas to absorb some of the energy that young generates toward learning. He is gifted and he projects giftedness to his peers. His classmates will adhere to his words more readily than those comiong from an adult. Please get back to me with information about the Dallas Schools and his school specifically.brian
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Erin said on September 10th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Dalton for President!!!!!!!!!!!
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Yvonne Banks Jones said on September 11th, 2008 at 11:47 am
What a powerful delivery. I found myself applauding, and I was the only one in the room. We all need a renewed jolt of why we became teachers and why we are still in the profession – to make a difference.
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Jack Silas said on September 11th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I have been a member of the education profession for over 50 years – as a teacher and an administrator. It is sad to see that a few of my colleagues would rather “kill the messenger” than listen and absorb the message.
Regardless of how Dalton got to the time and place where he delivered the message, it was a powerful one. He is the kind of student that I prayed for as a teacher and administrator. He is to be nurtured and cared for, not criticized for his performance. Ours is a profession where we ALL need each other; where we need to believe in our students; and hold each other accountable. We are ALL performers on the stage of life, with scripts that we do not always prepare ourselves.
We need to make sure that kids like Dalton survive to be heard from again!
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Ms Florence Eley said on September 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
“When was the last time the President of the U.S., politicians, or even CEOs and heads of medical and legal departments actually wrote and edited their own speeches or performed them off-the-cuff? Hardly ever — maybe never. It was spectacular, no matter how you look at it.” I could not have said it better myself! I will be sharing it with my grand kids and others!!!
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AMK said on September 11th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Master Dalton is a messenger who was asked to deliver a message. Whether he wrote it or not, doesn’t seem to be the point. The fact is that high expectations from families, teachers, and society in general can raise the expectations of students. That he delivered that message passionately, in fifth grade, means that he is an effective messenger.
Considering the many negative messages we receive through the media, what is wrong with us encouraging each other to at least start off the year optimistic about the chances of our children – and then working to fulfill them? -
Crosby said on September 11th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
This is another presidential Hopefull. Great speach, captured my attention. Good job Dalton Sherman keep the confidence.
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To all of you who think that the authorship of Dalton’s speech is insignificant, you may not then applaud “his” message or make grandiose pronouncements about “student voice.”
Also, feel free to give all of your students my email address and I will do my best to find adults to write their homework for them since it doesn’t matter who wrote a kid’s work.
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Edward Reed said on September 11th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
God bless you Dalton, and may the Lord raise up a hedge of protection around you to protect you from all of the negative pricks and nasty comments which will be cast at you. Keep the faith Dalton and you will succeed and prosper.
I believe in YOU Dalton.
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Lorri Crowley said on September 11th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I’ve read the postings and I can’t believe the negativity. So what if the speech was written for him? I know many talented people (some of them teachers) who could not have gotten up and delivered that speech, especially to a huge crowd like that. Did he say 20,000? He is a gifted orator. I haven’t noticed anyone mention the video of a 4th grade Dalton reciting a speech he wrote himself at an event honoring Maya Angelou. It was about Dr. King, and it won 1st prize. I believe the video is called Voices of Peace, but I cannot be sure. A one-hit wonder? I don’t think so!!! Dalton, if you are reading this, I want you to know you are an awesome young man, gifted by God, and I pray that he continues to bless you, and your family.
I understand teachers are underpaid; that is why I respect those who teach because they realize how important it is, and because they love it. Whoever Dalton’s teachers are, they should be so proud of what they have accomplished. Rest assured, he will remember them for the rest of his life. They brought out the greatness that was inside him. He now has hope and a future. I believe in you Dalton. God bless. -
Rick said on September 11th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Awesome! Inspiring! it’s nice to know that our younger generation has a voice and more importantly that some adults have an ear for them. I know a school filled with youngsters with this type of boldness, desire, and committment right here in Delaware at Kingdom Christian Academy.
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Theresa Jones said on September 13th, 2008 at 8:46 am
It is so very very sad that Dr. Gary Stager would rather “find adults to write their homework” than BE an adult, receive the message and do what HE can to stoke those fires of hope that were inspired by this presentation. When we enter a garden and notice a beautiful flower, we may gaze at it and smell it and even comment on how beautiful it is. Seeing it may bring us joy.
Do we complain that there was a gardener who contributed to its beauty and existance so therefore dismiss the value of the flower? No, the sane and intelligent among us value its presentation and appreciate how precious the flower is and AT THE SAME TIME acknowledge that there were many things that contributed to the beauty and value of that one flower. So it is with each and EVERY one of us. If someone believes in our value we can be cultivated and prosper . To the extent that those around us see value in us we suceed or fail. There is a scripture that asks “What do you have that you did not receive?”
Think Dr. When you were born-did you TAKE life or were you GIVEN life? As a baby did you, on your own, TAKE nourishment or were you GIVEN nourishment? In school-did you TAKE a good education or were you GIVEN a good education? Did you TAKE your position as a Dr. or were you GIVEN an opportunity to practice your skill? GET THE POINT DR.
GIVE the children a chance. The first step in accomplishing ANYTHING as humans is BELIEVING it can be done. By ourselves AND those around us IN CONJUNCTION with one another. The ONLY reason why the lives around us (and maybe even our own) experience so much sadness and failure is because the value of each of us has not been appreciated–first by those who brought us in the world and then by those who join us in the world. It is the people like yourself, who take great responsiblity on themselves for human interactions and environments (parents, teachers, caregivers and managers of humans on EVERY level) who fail people first and as a result; ALL human inadequacies are MANIFESTATIONS of THOSE failures. -
Kass said on September 13th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I agree with several, that this a true example of what coaching, modeling and dedication to our youth will evoke. It should make all educators reflect on their committment to these practices.
Dalton did a great job as an orator and delivered a much needed message.
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Jerrie said on September 13th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I saw this phenomenal young man deliver this speech in person, and I must say, after watching the video of him over and over it only gets better. This inspiring youngster is our future!
It does not matter who wrote the speech for Dalton, what makes the impact is his delivery, which was flawless. Everyone in my section was on their feet, cheering and applauding him not only for what he was saying, but also for his presence on that stage!
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That was very nice!
There was nothing political about it nor anything to read into.
Fundamentally all teachers should believe all their students can learn and believe in their ability to help each student reach their full potential. If you don’t then why teach???
… only for the gifted, motivated, those with parental involvement… I guess we should just get rid of the Department of Education altogether, right??? Just except the fact that some students, most who look like young Dalton or come from disadvantaged backgrounds will just be another statistic???
If you don’t believe that ALL students can succeed and that YOU can make a difference then you shouldn’t be a teacher.
The other issues like, support, parent involvement, resources, student motivation, tools of measure, etc. are beyond our control most times.. But we are still obligated to do all WE can to make a difference.
Those issues are for another speech…. :)
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My Two Sense said on September 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I can not believe that I read all these comments. Undeniably, a student doing his or her own work is desirable and also undeniably, examples of plagerism are abundant. Perhaps, it would have been appropriate to be transparent and forthcoming about who wrote the speech and how it was coached. I was inspired by it. But I really did not need additional inspiration, I am however, realistic about the opportunities given or denied certain students. No child left behind and full inclusion by its very nature makes achieving ones full potential in an overcrowded classroom very difficult. Here one child was singled out probably due to an observed talent, given extraordinary support and achieved atleast an excellent auditory performance. What about the rest of the students–are they to receive the same special attention. No! We can only be the best teacher we can be and help our students the best we can. My heart does go out to each and every one of my students. I just keep trying and learning from my mistakes. Please do not tell me that I should not be a teacher simply because I may not agree with every thought you have.
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clarence Jackson said on September 15th, 2008 at 10:23 am
There are many who emphasize that Dalton was rehearsed. Whether he was rehearsed or not, the message is real and on time. I am a retired Middle school and high shcool principal with 24 years in administration. We must believe in our young people. Not only believe, but be convinced that we are responsible for their success or failure.
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Christian said on September 15th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I found this perspective REFRESHING. This spoke to me in ways that many education professionals, presenters, consultants, etc…could not possibly have! I thought it was a great idea to have such powerful words stem from such a powerful source…an actual child that is SO right about the impact teachers have on young lives. While these may not have originated as his words…the delivery and the EFFECTIVENESS of the message were clearly enhanced by Dalton! Great Job Young Man…I am proud of you!
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WELL, as a retired 5th grade teacher I am not surprised at this outstanding presentation by this young student. His delivery effectiveness which engaged his audience is admirable. Someone, probably parents and teachers have developed his ability to first of all to believe in himself . Second,he obviously is a very bright child who is attuned to the world around him and adults. Third, he has learned how to present himself as a child who is concerned with the idea and maybe the fact ,that some children are not thought of as being worthy of having adults believe in them, or are interesed or seem to care! His message ,to me, is for all chidren to have the same expectations of being praised, loved, supported and believed in to achieved. SO, let’s pass this little icon on for others to see,learn and be inspired by.
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ViewPoynt said on September 16th, 2008 at 12:53 am
This young man ordered his ideas and delivered them with eloquence, confidence, and sure-fire courage. I was totally engaged. He pulled me in and kept me there. That is much, much more than I can say for most of today’s politicians, entertainers, singers, preachers, etc.
Good job young man! I see a great future for you, if you continue down this same path.
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Kola said on September 16th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Whether Dalton Sherman wrote and delivered this great speech,or was only groomed to perform it seems immaterial. Parents and teachers raise children by helping to train them, by building their self confidence through modelling and exposure to the best learning matterials and opportunities. The child (Dalton) is a product of his make-up (brain, personality and all). He is the product of his community (parents, family, school, neighborhood and opportunities. Reap what you sow. All around Daton deserve congratulations as much as Dalton. Society creates its geniuses. I see that as the core of Dalton’s speech, which I not only enjoyed but passed on to my adult children and my grandchildren.
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maggie said on September 16th, 2008 at 10:55 am
GOD CONTINUE TO SPREAD HIS WINGS AROUND THAT YOUNG MAN,HE’S A BLESSING,AND AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG KIDS ALL AROUND THE WORLD,INCLUDING MY DAUGHTER,D’SHNAY,BLESSINGS FROM THE ISLAND ST.MAARTEN.
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Valarie Thomas said on September 16th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
I am a parent of a child who is a gifted orator and performer like Dalton. I can tell you with all assurance that this child, in addition to coming to the table with skills and talents, is a hard worker and a thinker. He has adults surrounding him who love and care about his education. To “Just another teacher” who ponders the difficulty this kid would bring into the classroom, I’m sorry that you are tainted and hopeless with regards to the overwhelming opportunities for teaching such a kid as this. You should reevaluate your thoughts and more positively align them with the hopes, dreams and beliefs Dalton spoke of. Can you imagine, if he DID show up to your class, how your sour and pessimistic prejudices could affect your influence and effectiveness as a teacher with him? You’re right about one thing – he will NOT sit quietly by (and he shouldn’t) and allow the dissolutions of just another teacher to dissuade him from accomplishing his goals.
I say give every child who desires it the opportunity for unbelievable opportunities to speak publicly in church, school, neighborhood gatherings, family reunions and where ever else. Then we will see a positive difference and heightened expectation of all kids who are so encouraged, not to mention an increase in the use of proper English among our students. (had to say it)
To other parents like me, continue the fight for the best schools (public and private), teachers, courses, extra-curricular and sports activities, church programs, community programs, etc. so that our children will have the best chance possible to succeed!
DALTON, set another high goal and work to accomplish it. Don’t let this be the height of your oratory experiences. The sky IS really the limit. There is nothing you cannot accomplish if you work as hard as you did this summer.
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KinderQueen said on September 17th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Dalton’s is very impressive whether he wrote the speech or not. Certainly he’s had coaching and training to accomplish the presentation but try not to forget that Olympic gold athletes get extensive coaching and training.
Dalton apparently has the ‘goods’, the raw talent that can be cultivated to such a level at 5th grade.
As a teacher, my question is about what comes next? Is he given the guidance to script his own destiny or is he merely taught to be an exceptional parrot?
Please, don’t misinterpret this as my questioning Dalton’s ability… as I previously stated, he’s got the goods.
The question is really about the truths of public education. In the wake of No Child Left Behind, the endless hours of scripted programs for reading and language arts, and the never ending testing (sadly, even in kindergarten), I wonder what the goal of education has become.
I’ve listened as ‘experts’ (all too often, people who’ve been disenchanted or unsuccessful in the classroom) attempt to pigeonhole students with a ONE- right answer, ONE-way to do it, ONE-size fits all solution. I’ve dealt with ‘experts’ who don’t understand various grade levels and yet would presume to dictate how they are taught. These experts are rarely concerned with a child’s ability to do something, merely their ability to check correct answers on a standardized tests.
They are almost never concerned with a child’s joy of learning. And, in light of the failures of American students to compete in science and mathematics, that perhaps seems trivial on face value. But try and recall anything that you love (or loved) to do. I suspect it is something you do well, if only because you did it often enough to improve it. We see children failing in reading, but are we cultivating the love of reading? They fail in mathematics, are they provided with opportunities to play with mathematics? They fail in science, are we shooting down their enthusiasm by telling them they are wrong?
Education should be about cultivating talent and enthusiasm and adults who are well informed not because they are spoon fed rhetoric, but because they are unafraid to question and challenge the world around them.
We, as a nation need to wake up and really examine what’s going on and look into who are leaders are and why they seek those positions.
Okay, back off my soapbox…
Dalton, I applaud your wonderful presentation. My hope is that you are given the tools and the empowerment to put forth your own messages. -
KinderQueen said on September 17th, 2008 at 2:03 am
oops… I didn’t complete the edit.
Dalton IS very impressive.
(sorry) -
Susan Fevrier. said on September 17th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
This young man is AMAZING. He could give a lesson in public speaking to George Bush.
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Kola said on September 17th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
I hope after the commenting has dried up Dalton will be given a DVD or CD copy of his speech and the comments either by his school or by parents. I hope a few copies will be left in the library as reference material for several student generations.
I can tell you this event has been sent tothe UK and Nigeria,and I expect it will keep on spreading. If I was a boy I would love to go to a school that is so focussed on bringing out the best in students, and is so supportive of the efforts of teachers. I can see a number of students of this school reaching to the stars.
Well done all.Kola
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Wayne Carter said on September 18th, 2008 at 6:52 am
This is confirmation that our future generation is not doomed. This is wonderful and brings chills to me just listening. Education is power.
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DeAndra Knighten said on September 19th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
With so many African-American boys ending up as murder or prison statistics, it was refreshing to see this young African-American male take such an interest in his and other classmates education. Now the job becomes how do we as educators spread this message nation wide
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pamela Abramson said on September 20th, 2008 at 11:36 am
This is AWESOME!!!
Every Educator in the system who touches children need to hear this! Teachers have such a STRONG INFLUENCE they make or break a child!
Open youre eye this young man has it all figured out! Thanks for sharing thi. This needs to be shown to all teacher in services repeatedly!
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Love the kid and his message all you want. My suspicions have been confirmed, this was a cynical publicity stunt on the part of a troubled school district – http://tinyurl.com/3kpj3j
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[DISCLAIMER: just to let everyone know, I respect Gary immensely and consider him a personal friend. However, like in all friendships, there are disagreements sometimes. This is one of those times.]
Gary,
Thanks for posting this, and, thank you very much, I *WILL* continue to love Dalton and his message, and let me explain why.
First, let me say that I think I get where you are coming from, essentially that Dalton’s speech is the height of hypocrisy in light of the district’s decision to lay off 1,100 employees. I don’t agree with your characterization of it being a ‘publicity stunt’ but that’s just the beginning of where our views diverge.
Let’s be clear: neither of us saw Dalton’s performance (and could gauge the reaction of the audience), neither of us work for Dallas ISD, neither of us are impacted by the district’s decision to cut staff. Thanks to the wonders of the blogosphere, we can sit here in our comfortable chairs, from a safe distance, and argue about the merits (or lack thereof) of a young man’s speech in front of 17,000 teachers (I think that’s the right number). What a country… :/
Anyway, have you ever worked for a large, troubled organization or school district? I know you’ve CONSULTED (and done outstanding work) for several, but I mean have you WORKED for, as in have you been EMPLOYED BY one? Have you ever witnessed, firsthand, what it’s like to be a cog in the wheel of an organization struggling to maintain forward momentum despite difficult operating conditions, low morale, and a bleak forecast? I have, and I’m going to assume you have (thanks to your bio), perhaps as a member of the organization’s leadership/management team, if not, as an employee in the trenches (I’ve been both). Accordingly, let me ask you some questions…
How should an organization, struggling with day-to-day operations, not to mention an unfavorable view of the immediate future, best manage its stakeholder communication strategy? What messages are appropriate, and what messages are not? If you’re a member of the leadership team, do you focus on the positive? The negative? Shoot for the middle, aiming for some sort of balance? It seems to me that considering Dalton’s speech in isolation does little to help us understand the overall picture of what is going on in the district communication-wise … but then again, does that really matter?
This is the essence of the disconnect between us here. Dalton’s message (the words he spoke, I know they were not his own) touched the core of why I became a teacher, because I believe in the children that come into my classroom every day. I separate the issue from the individual, the performance from the person. I could care less that Dalton is from Dallas ISD; he could be from any district in any state in the country and his message would still resonate with me. Why? Because I don’t view Dalton as a product of his district (even though he is), I don’t look at him and think about the efficacy of his district administration team, I don’t hear his words and wonder if all 17,000 people in the audience feel the way I do about them. His words spoke to *ME*, and, perhaps selfishly, that’s what matters to *ME*.
In fairness, I think I titled my post incorrectly (as you well know, I’m prone to overenthusiasm at times). Perhaps I should have titled it, “Dalton Sherman speaks … to me. Does he speak to you?” or something like that. Asserting, dictating, demanding that “Every. Educator. Must. Watch. This. NOW!” does seem a bit over the top, even for me, but I wrote it in the heat of the moment immediately after seeing the video. Mea culpa.
Getting back on track, does the fact that layoffs were imminent when Dalton spoke diminsh the value of his performance? Surely, the 1,100 employees in the audience that will lose their jobs might think so, as they are likely bitter, angry, frustrated and upset (my thoughts go out to them; the prospect of being unemployed in this economy is frightening). But WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER 15,900 PEOPLE WHO REMAIN? Have you considered that Dalton’s message is perhaps what these teachers needed to hear most? See my comment above about stakeholder communications strategy. The organization must maintain forward momentum. I think Dalton’s speech helps in that regard, but again, I don’t work for Dallas ISD. They are the only ones qualified to say it does or not.
The biggest difference between us, Gary, is one of perspective. Watching the video, I see a young fifth grader giving a powerful performance and delivering an inspirational message. I don’t see his district, its leadership, its operating budget, its test scores, its award-winning teachers (or its low-performing ones), its curriculum, or the people who coached Dalton. I see the performance and I hear the message, and perhaps it’s shallow of me, but it resonates. We can agree to disagree, but in my experience, the way forward in a troubled organization is often illuminated by people who can somehow find the positive in world of negativity. That’s how I roll. How about you?
-kj-
[PLEASE NOTE: this is an emotional issue for many people participating in this conversation. PERSONAL ATTACKS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED and comments containing language *I* consider inflammatory will be DELETED. Feel free to disagree with anything anyone says, please - do so professionally. THANK YOU!]
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Actually, Kevin, I don’t think the layoffs were even a possibility when Dalton was performing — the discrepancy between income and payout wasn’t discovered until a couple of weeks later, as I understand it.
Had it been known, seriously, I’ll wager Hinojosa would have had the good sense to cancel the meeting to save a couple of jobs.
I heard the speech firsthand, I posted about it at my blog, and as someone with less than a year’s seniority in Dallas ISD, I’m probably closer to the top of the layoff list than anyone can be comfortable with. The damage to morale from this entire thing is much deeper than I could have imagined — and I’ve been involved in layoffs in bigger corporations before (only once as a direct victim).
Any good teacher, deep down, does it for the kids. God knows the pay would be better somewhere else, as well as every working condition. Dalton’s message still rings true — a “belief” in our students and our colleagues, trust that everyone works for the same high goals, is essential.
Of course, that necessary trust, between teachers and the downtown administrators, is gone now, and in the next few days as the layoff notices go out (supposed to be done by October 17), the trust between teachers and campus administrators will be strained, at best, and maybe shattered as well.
Dallas isn’t the only district in the nation that is underfunded — it’s one of about 15,000 by my count. Dallas isn’t the only one in desperate trouble — Milwaukee is considering a form of organizational suicide.
John Donne was right, you know. No school district, no teacher, is an island. Ask not for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for all of us, individually as well as collectively.
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Ed, thanks for commenting, again, and for your personal perspective. I enjoyed reading your account of the performance on your blog, here. It makes me understand the scene a little better. Good stuff. -kj-
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I kind of come down in the middle on this one. Gary, I understand your cynicism. I don’t think we ever want to use our students as pawns to manipulate public opinion. On the other hand, I don’t think it is as horrible as all that. Motivating teachers, especially during cuts, is a challenging bit. I’d say he did a pretty good job.
As for what he got out of the deal, I’d say that public speaking is a pretty key skill. Yes, helping students find their voice is critical, but this young man has the confidence and capability to move a crowd once he does find his voice. Let’s not be so cynical as to believe that the people in this district are so busy patting themselves on the back for his speech that they have forgotten that there is more work to be done.
Perhaps this discussion should be a work in progress. We should check back in a few months and see if this experience has led this young man to want to learn other important skills as well.
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Dave, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment. I love your focus and positive/realist outlook. Note – Ed Darrel, a commenter above, is at Dallas ISD (or he was … he’s non-tenured and low in seniority and could be let go soon if he’s not been already). Input from people on the ground there would be really helpful, the rest of us are just observing from a distance…
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A Involved Parent said on October 25th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I listened to Dalton’s speech on YouTube. I was very impressed! Due to the way it was verbally presented, it did not occur to me that he did not write the speech.As a mother of a gifted child, who also has verbally presented such speeches (not to such large crowds) in school and church functions, I know how stressful these times can be. And for him to present the speech as well as he did orally, relaxed and well enunciated, it doesn’t matter that he didn’t write it. Just getting him to open his mouth and pronounce his words where they could be understood, were not in ebonics, is saying a lot! As has been stated in previous comments, what major speakers don’t either have their entire (or major portions) speeches written for them and then coached on how to deliver them??? I also wanted to comment on the comments from Dr. Gary Stager, PhD. comparing this young man to Rev. Al Sharpton as making reference to pentecostal minister, was that a “racial comment”? Had he been a 5th grade white lad, and delivered the same message with the same passion, who would he have been compared to then?
I also agree with Lori Crowley, I would like to see the video (if it was recorded) or even the written copy of his speech about Dr. honoring Maya Angelou flood the internet also. Maybe Dr. Stagers needs to see/read it also, so that he won’t be so quick to spew out negative comments regarding an obvious bright, precocious and obviously unbashful young man.
One last comment, most of the credit that was going out, was given to his teacher(s). But I believe I did read one comment that gave credit to the mother. Let me state again as a parent of a gifted child, it doesn’t matter how gifted they are, if its not recognized and ENCOURAGED by BOTH teacher AND PARENT , that child will become stagnant and so will his GOD-GIVEN abilitlies and talents.
So in closing, kudos and God bless his mother(and father if he is in the picture) for seeing the potential in him and encouraging, allowing and teaching him to allow them to come forth!
In the words of my generation ….RIGHT ON DALTON!
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A few final thoughts before I move on…
First- Reading or reciting a speech written by someone else, no matter how well executed, is not an example of student voice, it is puppetry. Student voice requires the authenticity of the message in the voice of the speaker.
Second – Don’t you have any questions over why the Dallas ISD felt compelled to put on this show and then use its public relations department to make it a web sensation?
Third – Stating that there is a tradition of child preachers is not racism. It is a statement of fact. Dalton used an evangelical technique in his presentation.
Fourth – If you don’t think kids can do extraordinary things, like Dalton’s presentation, then I feel sorry for you. Perhaps you have forgotten because you work in a district like Dallas ISD where teachers are prohibited from thinking, getting to know students or teaching creatively because their job has been reduced to test prep.
Fifth – What exactly did Dalton say that teachers found revelatory? It seems to me that he shared self-evident platitudes known to any teacher who attended the first lecture of Education 101 class. I get it – teachers should care about their students. That is some profound stuff!
Sixth – Does it not bother you at all that a month after Dalton Sherman’s teacher rah rah performance made him a star of YouTube, the Dallas ISD layed off between 500 and 1,100 of those teachers he was chiding?
These virtually contemporaneous events can be interpreted one of two ways:
1) The leadership of the Dallas ISD knew that they needed to fire hundreds of teachers affecting tens of thousands of students and exploited Dalton as a smokescreen. How cynical!
2) The leadership of the Dallas ISD is so incompetent that they focused their energy on prepping Dalton for his performance while ignoring the financial mess that caused them to fire teachers a month into the school year.
Caveat Emptor!
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1. Rote memorization of lines in a play might qualify as not the kid’s views, if the kid were playing a role he doesn’t agree with.
That’s not the case here. Dalton wants to be a performer, a public speaker, and memorizing lines is the way he uses to get there now. His teachers have encouraged him for at least three years, assisted him, coached him. Having met the kid, I think he believes what is in the speech.
But were that not so, it’s a great public relations ploy, based more in honesty than not. The previous year the district had brought in a great inspirational speaker at a great price. While it charged up the teachers who saw it (I was not among them then), many were troubled by having the stuff come from a guy unaffiliated with the district.
So, this year, the district saved a few thousand dollars, showcased a great talent (did you know that Dallas’s G&T Magnet High School is ranked 2nd best in the nation — behind Dallas’s Engineering Magnet (or is it the other way around?); did you know that Dallas’s Booker T. Washington High grads have more than a dozen Grammy awards between them?).
The astounding thing is that the views come from the administration, from the people who had a reputation for abusing teachers.
The whole package carries a message: Dallas needs its teachers, and reveres them, while challenging them to better performance.
2. I have real problems with the Dallas PR department. They failed to get this thing up on YouTube for more than 48 hours after the event, and then didn’t promote it much. The Dallas Morning News got a copy of the video, and that promotion was the one that took off. It’s interesting that the biggest critic of Dallas ISD promoted the video the most. It’s also telling about the message, and way it was received.
3. As a sermon, it’s wonderful theology.
4. See above about the achievements of our graduates; if you want to see other kids Dalton’s age or slightly older, you can find the choirs of Greiner MS singing folk songs and children’s songs in several academic compilations. Come on out to Molina HS. Despite the test prep problems, come listen to our Mariachi Band, or our really hot Garage Band; come see our Dia de la Muerte decorations. Listen to our debaters and moot court competitors.
The kids are not the problem, nor is their achievement.
But still, a fifth grade kid owning an audience of 20,000 like Dalton did — that’s an astounding accomplishment. I saw Midori with the Dallas Symphony last week — she was five years older than Dalton when she first stepped out in front of 2,000 people. Don’t dismiss any part of Dalton’s achievement.
5. Nothing really revelatory. A good home run, or a no-hitter, isn’t revelatory either. But it’s remarkable, and commendable.
6. It bothered everyone that we lost 375 teachers and 700 others. Education is in trouble in America. In a big district like Dallas, mistakes can have massive effects. Dalton’s school was hit, too. To the best of anyone’s knowledge, no one affiliated with Dalton’s speech, including the superintendent, knew of the problem until many days after that speech.
So what?
If you have any information that Superintendent Michael Hinojosa knew the layoffs were coming, let us know. We’ll put his effigy on a pike as we run him out of town. No evidence to support that claim.
The prepping of Dalton required two or three people, and momentary attention from Superintendent Michael Hinojosa. There is no connection between the financial screw up and the speech Dalton gave.
The problem was mismatched and non-communicating accounting packages, implemented in different parts of the district in an attempt to clean up problems from the past. The packages were implemented quickly, a clean break from the past, under the watchful eye of the Texas Education Agency (especially after Dallas was forced to absorb another financially ailing district that was fraught with misfeasance), and the FBI and Justice Department. And, let’s not forget the Big 6 accounting firm brought in under Sarbanes-Oxley standards to assure everything was okay.
How could all those watchdogs miss the problem? Great question. The answer does not involve cynical work on the part of the people who helped Dalton Sherman, and especially, it’s not the fault of Dalton Sherman.
Everything is caveat emptor — but let’s not try to stampede people to be wary of things that are not there, or not harmful. Cynicism doesn’t become educators.
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Patsy said on November 21st, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Aloha,
Rather Dalton was coached, taught, encouraged, memorized line by line till he remembered his speech by heart, it still takes self determination, dicipline, and interest to endure. Great Job!!!!!
A potential candidate for a future President of the United States. Pursue your dreams!!! All the success.
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I finally got to watch this after the link from one of my high school teachers sat in my email for months. Incredible. Besides thanking Dalton and his teachers, I feel I also need to thank Ed Darrell for his insightful comments on this website. I’m a high school principal, and if you’d ever like a job here in State College, PA, I’d take you in a second! And much thanks to Kevin for sharing all of this with all of us.
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Jesse Howard said on February 9th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Most of these comments originated as far back as August of last year so I’m a little perplexed as to why its just now gaining any real publicity. I am a music teacher but I happen to be mobilized right now. When I saw Dalton Sherman, I could not imagine ANYONE HAVING ANYTHING NEGATIVE TO SAY. (let me calm down; i’m getting upset already)
Ya Know…. its interesting to note, of the 60 something comments so far, perhaps the dumbest, most insensitive, “iggernent” statements and viewpoints came from someone, who who has achieved and benefitted most from the educational system. This seems to be a trend for the past recent years. It is interesting to note that the current state of our economy was screwed up by some of the “brightest” minds, the most well most educated “geniuses” we have at our disposal; CEOs, Presidents, Governors, Senators, financial experts, leaders and even doctors with PH. D’s. People who have reached these achievements many times can’t grasp some of the most elementary concepts of anything; I.E. Believing in others, compassion, help; BUT THEY KNOW HOW TO HATE AND FIND THE NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE ALL IN THE NAME OF BEING INTELLIGENT. It’s like they only have the ability to make simple things hard. SUPPOSE LITTLE Dalton Sherman SEES THIS BLOG ONE DAY AND READS “dr. stager’s asinine COMMENTS; this is all that’s needed to cause Dalton not to “BELIEVE” in himself; even a little bit. But I bet dr. stager did’nt even THINK about that; well damn, I did,… and I’m just a teacher. Sometimes, Kevin S, you have to deal with stupity in a harsh manner and you can’t sympathize with it; even if stupid people are your friend.
As a Music Teacher, I can give my chorus students all the right vocal parts, the harmony and the lyrics as they are transcribed in the music. But check this out; “I BELIEVE” only the students have the ability, if I only inspire them and allow them to be creative, to DELIVER and transform, all the tangible musicality into a sound that can make you tear up or get goose bumps. I CAN’T TEACH THEM THAT; it’s aready inside of them. Now who taught me that? …..my students. -
LaFayette Barnes said on February 15th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Pretty good. I feel its correct . Every child have someting great to offer you just have to try to extract it out.
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LaFayette Barnes said on February 15th, 2009 at 9:26 am
I thought it was great. Every child have something to offer but we as teachers have to try to extract it.
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