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Below is the v ideo and transcript of the Coxsackie-Athens HS Class of 2010 valedictory speech that went v iral

on the web, thus proclaiming me as the 'valedictorian who spoke out against schooling.'

Here I Stand

Erica Goldson

June 25, 2010


There is a story of a y oung, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, "If

I work very hard and diligently , how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then


replied, "Ten y ears." The student then said, "But what if I work very , very hard and really apply my self to

learn fast - How long then?" Replied the Master, "Well, twenty y ears." "But, if Ireally, really work at it, how long

then?" asked the student. "Thirty y ears," replied the Master. "But, I do not understand," said the disappointed

student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, y ou say it will take me longer. Why do y ou say that?"

Replied the Master, "When y ou have one ey e on the goal, y ou only have one ey e on the path."

This is the dilemma I've faced within the American education sy stem. We are so focused on a goal,

whether it be passing a test, or graduating as first in the class. However, in this way , we do not really learn. We

do whatever it takes to achieve our original objective.

Some of y ou may be thinking, Well, if y ou pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn't y ou learn

something? Well, y es, y ou learned something, but not all that y ou could have. Perhaps, y ou only learned how

to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear y our mind for the next test. School is

not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon

as possible.

I am now accomplishing that goal. I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience,

especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent

than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the sy stem. Y et, here I

stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination. I will leave in the

fall to go on to the next phase expected of me, in order to receive a paper document that certifies that I am

capable of work. But I contest that I am a human being, a thinker, an adventurer not a worker. A worker is

someone who is trapped within repetition a slave of the sy stem set up before him. But now, I have

successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I was told to the extreme. While others sat in class and

doodled to later become great artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test-taker. While others

would come to class without their homework done because they were reading about an interest of theirs, I

never missed an assignment. While others were creating music and writing ly rics, I decided to do extra credit,

even though I never needed it. So, I wonder, why did I even want this position? Sure, I earned it, but what will

come of it? When I leave educational institutionalism, will I be successful or forever lost? I have no clue about

what I want to do with my life; I have no interests because I saw every subject of study as work, and I excelled


at every subject just for the purpose of excelling, not learning. And quite frankly , now I'm scared.

John Tay lor Gatto, a retired school teacher and activ ist critical of compulsory schooling, asserts, We

could encourage the best qualities of y outhfulness curiosity , adventure, resilience, the capacity for

surprising insight simply by being more flexible about time, texts, and tests, by introducing kids into truly

competent adults, and by giv ing each student what autonomy he or she needs in order to take a risk every

now and then. But we don't do that. Between these cinderblock walls, we are all expected to be the same. We

are trained to ace every standardized test, and those who dev iate and see light through a different lens are

worthless to the scheme of public education, and therefore v iewed with contempt.

H. L. Mencken wrote in The American Mercury for April 1924 that the aim of public education is not

to fill the y oung of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. ...

Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim ... is simply to reduce as many

indiv iduals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized

citizenry , to put down dissent and originality . That is its aim in the United States.

(Gatto)

To illustrate this idea, doesn't it perturb y ou to learn about the notion of critical thinking. Is there really

such a thing as uncritically thinking? To think is to process information in order to form an opinion. But if we

are not critical when processing this information, are we really thinking? Or are we mindlessly accepting other

opinions as truth?

This was happening to me, and if it wasn't for the rare occurrence of an avant-garde tenth grade English

teacher, Donna Bry an, who allowed me to open my mind and ask questions before accepting textbook

doctrine, I would have been doomed. I am now enlightened, but my mind still feels disabled. I must retrain

my self and constantly remember how insane this ostensibly sane place really is.

And now here I am in a world guided by fear, a world suppressing the uniqueness that lies inside each of

us, a world where we can either acquiesce to the inhuman nonsense of corporatism and materialism or insist

on change. We are not enlivened by an educational sy stem that clandestinely sets us up for jobs that could be

automated, for work that need not be done, for enslavement without fervency for meaningful achievement.


We have no choices in life when money is our motivational force. Our motivational force ought to be passion,

but this is lost from the moment we step into a sy stem that trains us, rather than inspires us.

We are more than robotic bookshelves, conditioned to blurt out facts we were taught in school. We are all

very special, every human on this planet is so special, so aren't we all deserv ing of something better, of using

our minds for innovation, rather than memorization, for creativ ity , rather than futile activ ity , for rumination

rather than stagnation? We are not here to get a degree, to then get a job, so we can consume industry -

approved placation after placation. There is more, and more still.

The saddest part is that the majority of students don't have the opportunity to reflect as I did. The

majority of students are put through the same brainwashing techniques in order to create a complacent labor

force working in the interests of large corporations and secretive government, and worst of all, they are

completely unaware of it. I will never be able to turn back these 18 y ears. I can't run away to another country

with an education sy stem meant to enlighten rather than condition. This part of my life is over, and I want to

make sure that no other child will have his or her potential suppressed by powers meant to exploit and

control. We are human beings. We are thinkers, dreamers, explorers, artists, writers, engineers. We are

any thing we want to be - but only if we have an educational sy stem that supports us rather than holds us

down. A tree can grow, but only if its roots are given a healthy foundation.

For those of y ou out there that must continue to sit in desks and y ield to the authoritarian ideologies of

instructors, do not be disheartened. Y ou still have the opportunity to stand up, ask questions, be critical, and

create y our own perspective. Demand a setting that will prov ide y ou with intellectual capabilities that allow

y ou to expand y our mind instead of directing it. Demand that y ou be interested in class. Demand that the

excuse, Y ou have to learn this for the test is not good enough for y ou. Education is an excellent tool, if used

properly , but focus more on learning rather than getting good grades.

For those of y ou that work within the sy stem that I am condemning, I do not mean to insult; I intend to

motivate. Y ou have the power to change the incompetencies of this sy stem. I know that y ou did not become a

teacher or administrator to see y our students bored. Y ou cannot accept the authority of the governing bodies

that tell y ou what to teach, how to teach it, and that y ou will be punished if y ou do not comply . Our potential

is at stake.


For those of y ou that are now leav ing this establishment, I say , do not forget what went on in these

classrooms. Do not abandon those that come after y ou. We are the new future and we are not going to let

tradition stand. We will break down the walls of corruption to let a garden of knowledge grow throughout

America. Once educated properly , we will have the power to do any thing, and best of all, we will only use that

power for good, for we will be cultivated and wise. We will not accept any thing at face value. We will ask

questions, and we will demand truth.

So, here I stand. I am not standing here as valedictorian by my self. I was molded by my environment, by

all of my peers who are sitting here watching me. I couldn't have accomplished this without all of y ou. It was

all of y ou who truly made me the person I am today . It was all of y ou who were my competition, y et my

backbone. In that way , we are all valedictorians.

I am now supposed to say farewell to this institution, those who maintain it, and those who stand with me

and behind me, but I hope this farewell is more of a see y ou later when we are all working together to rear a

pedagogic movement. But first, let's go get those pieces of paper that tell us that we're smart enough to do so!

+150 Recommend this on Google

143 comments:Venus as a boy June 24, 2011 at 1:28 PMTHANK YOU!Reply


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Anonymous July 5, 2011 at 10:05 AMGood for you for speaking the truth. I'm surprised they let you finish.Reply

Anonymous December 6, 2013 at 6:14 PMSame here!

Bob Francis July 9, 2011 at 4:29 PMExcellent! A++ My advice for you is to find that goal the Zen master talked about -Everyday! Finding your goal is not as easy as one may think, due in large partbecause we are not trained to think "outside of the box", as you know. Let yourheart decide what you truly want - you may need, nay, you will need to train yourmind (read: Think and Grow Rich - not necessarily to get rich, but to open yourunderstanding mind and to train your sub-conscious what and how to think. Yourgoal may well be to help the school systems change the way our children aretaught; maybe to have them fully aware of the "real world". I do know that Iwish my kids were more aware, because now that they are in their twenties, theyare wondering what they want to do with their lives.Blessings and Peace and Love and Joy to you and yours.

Oh PS. - Congratulations on your achievements:)


Oh PS. - Congratulations on your achievements:)Reply

Unknown July 11, 2011 at 8:46 PMI truly believe and feel that this speech has just altered my live in ways that Icannot fathom right now but hope to discover soon. Absolutely amazing!Reply

tiberius016 July 16, 2011 at 9:25 PMYou have a privileged place on my tumblr blog (escapethamatrix.tumblr.com)I'm with you. Let's create a better system of education, economics, and the rest.Check out this speech by Salman Khan: http://youtu.be/gM95HHI4gLk. Excitingstuff!!Reply

Nicole July 19, 2011 at 3:18 AMAs an educator, mother, and human being, I thank you for saying the truth. I amcurrently working on my doctorate in Educational Leadership, simply for thepaper that says I'm "smart enough" for people to listen to me. I think like youthink and will be vehemently working on creating a better future for futuregenerations.Reply


Kelly Hogaboom July 22, 2011 at 2:10 AMThank you so much - you are brave and wiser than many. I could have spokenthese words about my character and accomplishments when I graduated but Iwas still busy feeling the only thing important about me was my good-girl test-taker record. Today after many trials and much suffering I'm a happy personraising (unschooled) kiddos - kids far more self-validated, intelligent, caring, andbrave than I ever was. When I see young people such as yourself speaking outthis way I feel so excited for the new generation. Wonderful stuff.Reply

Jennifer S. August 15, 2011 at 7:15 AMI watched your video just now and reposted it a few times. CLEARLY TOTALLYAWESOME ERICA!!! That was great! I'm very happy you spoke truth. You aretruly very smart to speak up to make people aware. Fucking awesome! I wentthrough college working the whole time and taking honors classes and when I gotout all that praise didn't mean anything because I suddenly became andindentured servant who had to work off her $30,000 school loans.

I have had to work shitty office jobs making advertising propaganda for shittymoney-centered non-humanistic people all so I can just get to what I love whichis art. I'm so glad there are people your age smart enough to wake other peopleup so this system gets reorganized. Education should be FREE for anybody whowants to learn and it should be structured differently to bring out people's realtrue talents.Reply


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Jennifer S. August 15, 2011 at 8:11 AMWhen I hear the quote, "FREEDOM isn't FREE" it kinda makes me wonder... Thenwhat is it actually? Isn't "freedom" actually a self-defining adjective? This islike saying "the state of being FREE, COSTS." Well, if something costs, then whyeven call it FREE and then tell me it costs?

This is the kind of bullshit that brainwashes stupid people. This is why youngpeople like you are awesome to make people truly realize they are conditioneddrones until they wake themselves up with self-honesty like you did.Reply

Anonymous April 17, 2012 at 4:10 PMJennifer, The phrase "Freedom isn't free" refers to this country and the"freedoms" we have compaired to other countries that don't have theprivilages we do. And to keep these freedoms from being taken awayfrom us by other jelous countries, we have to pay a price. The price beinglives lost keeping the ill intentioned parties, be it whole countries orbands of thugs, at bay and not on our soil. The price can be high at timesas it has in the past. Granted, some wars, declaired or undeclaired(unlawful) are started with ulterior motives by certain powerfulglobal financiers. But our freedom to live the way we desire is slowlydisentergrating under the current government system which has grownbeyond the powers originally intended by our founding fathers. I'mgetting off tract but our freedom does come at a cost.


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Anonymous August 17, 2011 at 10:07 AMThis speech is simply amazing and wonderful...I feel hope when I readsomething like this....The most important thing is being grateful for what/who takes us to the pointwhere we are now...& the choice to break free from a system that takes awayfrom the truth & our potential.THANK YOUReply

Anonymous July 16, 2013 at 2:36 AMnice font

Brenda August 17, 2011 at 3:11 PMWonderful speech Erica. I have shared it with many of my home educatingfriends. I have been home educating all of my children for many years nowbecause of the horrible condition of the public schools. My children range in ageof 31 down to 13 now.Reply


Anonymous August 31, 2011 at 10:09 PMI'm just a random guy that you will probably never know nor meet. Your speechwas amazing and touching. Thank you.Reply

deeanyo September 5, 2011 at 5:34 AMI always thought the same way as you but you actually had the courage tospeak up. The rules of the system is simple, complied with it and you'll havesecurity whether it be job/family/area you live in. I used to learn and now Icomplied because I couldn't find a job without a title. I will still remain theslave of this system until the system gives me a title that tells me I'm worthy.Tell me how everything turns out for you after college.Reply

bimbim September 11, 2011 at 10:16 AMi found a transcript of your speech last year and posted it on my Notes onFacebook. i just wanna say thank you for saying what you said. keep doing whatyou do.Reply

The Marxist Farmer September 14, 2011 at 10:53 PMI herd about your speech at the HS i went to 30 miles west of Albany. Im


I herd about your speech at the HS i went to 30 miles west of Albany. Imgraduated but i plan to disrupt next years HS gradution at my HS. Any ideas onhow to disrupt a public event?Reply

Nyrere Steven Norfleet September 16, 2011 at 1:38 PMYou are what I expect of the future. You have instilled so much hope in me thatyou cannot fathom. Why? because now I know that I am not the only one whofeels as you feel about the realities of our education system. I always felt thatthis world did not fit what it is to be normal,especially considering how we allbegin our lives via the education system. It is a flawed construct that must becompletely revised. Erica, you are a hero in my eyes and don't let anyone else tellyou otherwise. You are a true light bringer. Let your illumination shine on all. Ihonor you and may god bless you.Reply

Anonymous September 17, 2011 at 12:50 PMAs a long time middle school wage-slave, I was thrilled to find that your avant-garde English teacher challenged you to question the point of playing the 'gradegame' in assembly-line schooling. There is a growing understanding amongeducators that students, rather than teachers, are best qualified to determinewhat they should study and how. My son is 'unschooled' and it is with great pityand respect for my students that I continuously redirect learning in myclassroom to critical and constructive thinking and collaboration. You have givenus all hope for a future of free thinking and compassionate friends. Thank you.Reply


Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 3:35 PMI must say that speech blew me away.A true free thinker.No matter which road you take you are a winner.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 3:53 PMErica,

You had the courage to speak the truth, hats off to you.

Come over to zerohedge.com and join in the worldwide informed. We are theresistance.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 4:01 PMPowerful words... FANTASTIC SPEECH, and a FANTASTIC brain. Thecourage it took to call out the establishment is all that is required to trulysucceed.

Good luck to you, Stranger in PhoenixReply


Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 4:15 PMErica,I have felt the same way since I was a teenager back in the early seventies. Ihave tried my whole life to stay far away from the center of the matrix yetparticipate and and carry my own weight in society. The main ways that I havedone this is hold tight to my convictions and own my own business. It iswonderful and hope inspiring to here one as young and smart as you fearlesslyspeak the truth. You have shown me that enlightenment is just barely being sweptunder the carpet and may come bursting out at any time. As young as you are, youare light years ahead of Hilary Clinton and I nominate you as her replacementeffective immediately. Thank you and all the best to you.Reply

Edward Metz September 18, 2011 at 4:17 PMYour speech is a dead-on accurate assessment of the Amerikan educationalinstitution. It is a crying shame that the sheeple have no idea that TPTB has setthe goal of serfdom for all but the elite.

Your speech made it into the ZeroHedge blog:http://www.zerohedge.com/news/student-loans-hit-all-time-record-one-high-school-valedictorian-gets-itReply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 4:19 PM


Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 4:19 PMThanks for you wonderful and thoughtful speech! It delivered a little glimmerof hope on an otherwise stormy day. Good luck on your future endeavors, and keepon thinking.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 5:07 PMMay you always keep this flame lit up inside, and may God bless you in many,many ways.

Thank you for being truthful to your essence.Reply

bflowers1 September 18, 2011 at 5:12 PMYour eyes are open, you must of Swallowed the Red pill! Welcome to the Matrix!Question Everything! You will wake some up, but there is a sea of Lost out there..Very good Job on your Speech.. I'm sure most that listened to it, didn't get itthough. It is sad to say, you were speaking over their brain washed minds !Reply

melo September 18, 2011 at 5:15 PMwow! erica you totally rock! thanks for telling it exactly as it is, respect, kudos,and yes love for such a spirited, aware speech. great comments too!awesome...


awesome...Reply

Bleakheart September 18, 2011 at 5:19 PMI appreciate your speech and agree with much of the unrest about the currentproblems. So I am of an opinion that it is possible to do anything that would help everyone.But it is not easy and needs to be done in a way everyone can accept and be happyabout. However, I have heard that those funding acorn or acorn projects have donerather ill fated projects that have been less than legit. One such example is voterfraud that was done in town. They were paying people to vote a particular way,as a quick way to make money. (This was told to me by a trusted friend, andtheir word I wouldn't question on such a matter.) So, no I've not first hand butstill. There are things out there that I don't trust about it.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 7:13 PMIf only I had heard this speech before spending 23 years in education getting aPhD !Reply

Rottenclam September 18, 2011 at 8:04 PMRight on, Erica! I followed this link from zerohedge.com and gained an even


Right on, Erica! I followed this link from zerohedge.com and gained an evendeeper appreciation for your speech by being able to read it.

It is really rare for those in your age-group to be questioning (openly) whatmany of us older Americans have known for years. The fact that you used yourgraduation platform to deliver the message and express those thoughts wasreally courageous. Kudos.

I hope a fulfilling future unfolds for you, and that you find yourself in anoccupation that is enjoyable.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 8:14 PMI love you.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 8:14 PMthank you for having the courage & insight to speak your words :)Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 8:50 PMWell said -and brave in so many ways.


Do not worry about your own missed opportunities.You've awoken in plenty of time to listen, discover and enjoy your passions. Good journey.Reply

Anonymous September 18, 2011 at 9:30 PMYou've got big brass ones, my dear! Outstanding. The fact that you've figured thisout at such a young age, and had the GUTS to say it...I'm speechless.

I'm 39. I look at most teens these days and I'm convinced we're all doomed. Youjust made me question that assumption.

You freakin GO girl!Reply

merizobeach September 19, 2011 at 12:21 AMPS... Here's the link to you on ZH: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/student-loans-hit-all-time-record-one-high-school-valedictorian-gets-it

Three and a half million monthly readers just saw your speech. Well, so far, 20thousand. :-)

As an aside, ZH permits an unmoderated discussion, and many posters there arehighly disgruntled; please understand that reader comments are sometimesvicious in a manner that may seem unprovoked or unwarranted, and sometimes


vicious in a manner that may seem unprovoked or unwarranted, and sometimesthere are unserious cruelties just for the sake of a laugh. If somebody calls youa 'valley girl', brush it off. Or bite them in the neck.Reply

Giordano Bruno September 19, 2011 at 8:43 AMI am grateful to zero hedge for our introduction. Hi and thank you for manythings but especially for sharing your gifts. As a father of three, the dailystruggle to awaken my "comatose" children is raging. A light like yours is bothuplifting and reassuring that there can be more than a world of "iPurchase,therefore i am".Reply

Anonymous September 19, 2011 at 1:12 PMA time not too distant in the past, I was a valedictorian as well. You'veperformed a speech that I've only ruminated about in my head during my youngertimes. As you know, being intelligent and young, the world often has a way ofdefying logic.

I tend to think those who are able see the sea of possibilities standing on thedocks of reality often experience a deep disconnect. The more you understand ofthe world, you will see that change happens, much like the sea. To the naked eyeand one sparkling with intensity, it is maddeningly slow. But to the weatheredgaze, it is powerful as it is vast.

Here's the thing: for many, there will always be a disconnect, as well there


Here's the thing: for many, there will always be a disconnect, as well thereshould be. As the world shifts in its own reality, so will the ideals ofpossibilities. The trick is to not become burdened at the perceived gap, but to lookat with hope of what could be. This trick often goes by another name, which isthat of patience.

I wish you the best with your future and especially in dancing.

I leave you with this last bit, a commencement speech by David Foster Wallace:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5THXa_H_N8Reply

Anonymous September 20, 2011 at 9:00 PMI showed this speech to my father and all he said was "just another jewish girlreading a speech written by her father"... I was speechless...Reply

Anonymous September 20, 2011 at 9:15 PMI have posted your comments on facebook and passed it around to so many of myfriends and family and so too have they. Everyone is inspired by your speech. Manypeople seem afraid that our youth have lost their way in this labyrinth of a worldwe have created but you give us great hope that some of our youth are in fact"waking up" to their true potential. There are many of us who support what yousaid and we wish you great success and happiness in your future in addition towhat you want for the world around you.Reply


Anonymous September 21, 2011 at 4:22 AMBrava, brave one!Reply

allan portman September 21, 2011 at 7:46 AMI am so lucky that a friend posted this enlightened speech on my Facebook Profilepage! This is the perfect outlook for a young woman or man and gives me a sliverof hope for mankind. If all young people are thinking you do Erica, and they arereally waking from the slumber of our failing system, the United States willbecome a better place to live. The education system may be flawed, but seems tohave taught you very well. Give your parent or parents or whomever raised youan A++, too. They/him/her probably had a major impact bringing you out of thedarkness and into the light, but that one English teacher who you said enlightenedyou, give her the credit for the success you're going to certainly find in a socialworld. I believe when going into college, you'll escape the matrix even more so,there's a lot more enlightenment in front of you, you're one of the few who haveboth eyes open. Use your knowledge for the good of mankind, and I promise, youcan only receive blessings so GIANORMOUS, that you'll constantly be looking forways to continue kindness.Reply

Anonymous September 22, 2011 at 7:57 PMYes! The youth of our great NATION IS ALIVE! Beautiful words young lady!


Yes! The youth of our great NATION IS ALIVE! Beautiful words young lady!We are awake....

Ask questions, demand answers! Love it!Reply

Mary G. September 23, 2011 at 2:44 PMI have printed this speech out and saved it to my pc. I want my daughter and sonto read these inspiring words sometime in the future when they can comprehendthe full meaning behind this! I was never validictorian nor would I ever havebeen because your thoughts have been my thoughts while I was growing up.However this made me rebellious in my teenage years and didn't want to and wasnot interested in school anymore. When I dropped out I was on the honor roll myjunior year of high school. What was really a disappointment is when I actuallydid put some effort into my work I did fantastic and a teacher actually gave bea B- and wrote the comment on the top of my paper "Who wrote this???" meaning shedidn't believe I had the potential to write a paper like that myself and Iremember it to this day it was a paper on Beowulf. After such incidents kept mymotivation down I said enough of this. I went and got my GED which I passedwith flying colors just to get out of that wretched enviroment called school! Ipraise you for your courage, wisdom and knowledge. Being able to speak yourmind even when you know you will be criticized is one of the hardest things aperson can do! God Bless and I wish you a lifetime of happiness and fulfillment!You have made a difference in this world!Reply


Mirri October 25, 2011 at 6:12 PMI Loved it. Great!! Rock on!Reply

Ian_Kirk November 5, 2011 at 4:44 AMAt the age of 31 I discovered that many of the philosophies that I was taught inour public schooling system where about creating worker bee's not free thinkers.It is amazing to me to see a young lady be so aware that she discovered in in halfthe time. I have a new saying to tell people now when they ask me what I do, Ican respond, "I'm unschooling myself"Reply

Maybe Meme November 8, 2011 at 11:49 PMInternet helped liberate me from the confines of the system as well.

My father had me online in 1994 when I was 11. By the time I was 16 I had begunlearning my interests almost exclusively online in my schools library via theaddition of broadband internet.

As a result of skipping my English class for two weeks, to attend films at thecinema which had greater importance to me, I was let go from the class. I wasre-positioned more appropriately into another English class with a socialistleaning mentor, who liked to show films in class. I don't ever remember beingconsulted about this move, or my parents ever being called by the school.However, I suspect that somebody worked in my interest to place me there, as


However, I suspect that somebody worked in my interest to place me there, aswhen I arrived I encountered the privilege to do what I wanted, and to discusswith other thoughtful learners our interests. Political Economy, Nutrition, IT (web dev and networking) mostly.

I still showed up to my psychology class (the only interesting one I had, thanksin a large part to the mentor at the front of it), and went to history class once ina while to debate my teacher on the merits of American Imperialism.

In so doing, I became the only friend of an Iranian boy named Mohammad, whoI am friends with today (even though he was deported to Iran after 9/11)Mohammad was more studious in class than I, aiming to please his parents whowere more strict than I. Although, he did skip class with me a few times tolearn alongside me in the library, where I could usually be found mon-fri from9am-6pm, long after everyone else had gone home. Mohammad and I skipped classone time to attend a lecture at SFU by one of the humanitarian co-ordinators ofIraq as well.Reply

Maybe Meme November 8, 2011 at 11:51 PMIt was as though those learners who couldn't be led with a carrot and stick,were amalgamated into thus one class. One day I arrived at class, to discover afilm being shown which had a BIG impact on me at the time. It was the JuliaRoberts film about the story of Erin Brockovich, who led and won the largestclass action law suit in American history, for the cover up by PG&E of the cancercausing chemical contamination of the drinking water of a rural Californiacommunity.


After being graduated without completing 3/4's of my classes by a high schoolcouncilor who simply gave me a "standing grant" in the areas I had no completed,I went onto work in IT while learning on the job, as a courier of organicgroceries where for a year while listening to auido-books and university lecturesfrom the teaching company. I got into personal development, NLP, and sales atthis time as well. I landed a job a in IT again, while also working as acommissioned sales person utilizing the skills in interpersonal communications(NLP) I pulled from the internet. I sold 90% of the dept's software, and waspromoted to sales. There I met the executive assistant to the CEO of the companywho was 4 years older than myself. We began dating, and eventually I adoptedher son, who had significant challenges as a result of abuse they suffered in thepast.

Her son expressed that he was not happy with school. At the time I was livingwith the founder of selfdesign.com's son, in his co-operative home he set up whenhe was 20. He himself was adopted, and the relationship he had with his father Imodeled whilst contracting with the Self Design program as a means of incomeand learning.

I further mentored with the founder from the age of 24-27. We also placed ourson in his learning program and I have been home learning with him up and until afew days ago, when he decided to try public school again.

He's now in a happy loving relationship with his mother, curious and motivated andpassionate about several interest: marine biology, engineering, acrobatics, etc.Part of his desire to join, were the new changes to the public system in BC thatwe heard about two weeks ago...bcedplan . ca


Isaac Asimov, one of my cherished mentors, long ago said this day would come...the day when we the entire planet would have their own personal learningmachine.... youtube dot com /watch?v=CJAIERgWhZQ

My mentor Joel Bellenson, facebook dot com/equalwatts ) whose company firstannotated and sequenced the human genome, pointed out a while ago to me thatpersonal learning is a phenomena that works well currently for the wealthy. Butalso, has found an exponential historical trend in solar power, whereby the pricehas been dropping 75% / decade, since ~1940. Extrapolating out, this means the entireplanet will be solar by 2030 and exceeding 400% of our current energy consumptionglobally. As we sit currently, Moore's law is bringing us computer powerdoublings every 18 months, and solar cost reduction and growth is pumping rightalongside of it. Africa is being wired, both by wired and wireless internet. A NA1995 internet moment is beginning on the continent, and soon the globe will be onemachine programmed and operated by US.

youtube dot com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

wired dot co dot uk/news/archive/2011-11/04/get-rich-move-to-africa

It's an excting time to be alive.

But let us not forget, that the global south/China are still far less developed, andonly by advocating for an Equal Watt's revolution globally, will we provide thematerial conditions necessary for global personal learning mediated by internet,let alone pull the planet out of cyclical generational economic crises and war.

The biggest question I never got a satisfactory answer to in school. Was why didthe great depression happen, and could it again?


the great depression happen, and could it again?Reply

Anonymous November 15, 2011 at 4:20 PMI agree, with what you said...Reply

Anonymous November 15, 2011 at 4:22 PMI didnt get it but it was coolReply

Anonymous November 15, 2011 at 4:23 PMlolReply

Anonymous November 15, 2011 at 4:25 PMI hope that you also inspire school administrations to change things for futuregenerations :)Reply

julian December 1, 2011 at 7:09 PM


julian December 1, 2011 at 7:09 PMthe best of my public school education, as i remember it, was the affirmation ofmy intermittent dissent by those on the margins of the school (who stood againstthe common denominator). for brief moments, i subjectivized and reclaimed myeducation as a result of this dialectical movement. what will happen if this visionmaterializes or comes to any sort of systemic fruition? will a monolith of openminded folk stride forth across the earth hand in hand, empowering creativity andcrushing epistemological oppression?

those who are now empowering us (the youth) from the blurred anddisenfranchised margins of the school (like her avant garde teacher) might verywell become the oppressors, forcing themselves and their subjective vision (oncethe subjective vision of the underdog, now the objective, common denominator) uponthe youth.

i am a cynic where process is concerned in the application of the principlesnecessary for the coming-into-being of this vision, respectfully, erica, although ido cheer for your brazenness and courage.. i would NOT have had it in me to dothis!!! dissent is potent when it comes from the fringes.. (like this speech).

when it is institutionalized, standardized, and diffused, i believe it may lose itspotency. :)Reply

lace wedding dress December 30, 2011 at 4:15 AMA holy church, rings, a bouquet, a 3-floor wedding cake, lace wedding dresschampagne, and the moving promise I do, make up the happiest moment in oneslife. Then it is the wedding.


life. Then it is the wedding. lace wedding gowns A gorgeous wedding dress has been inside a girls dream since she was five yearsold. It is widely said that the bride is the most beautiful woman all over theworld.Bridal gowns vary in different parts of the world. For example, cheap weddingdresses plus sizein traditional Chinese culture, the color red is regarded forcenturies as the symbol of good luck; while in the Occident, wedding dresses 2012a full-length white wedding dress is always associated with romance andsanctity. But, with the globalization, wedding dresses tend to be alike in the wholeworld.Reply

Nikki W March 4, 2012 at 2:35 PMI just saw this on a friend's facebook page today. Way to go girl! I wish I hadknown this before feeling like a giant failure for not wanting to go to collegeafter high school. Even though I never got a college or university degree mylearning never stopped. I am constantly teaching myself about things thatinterest me and now, as a mother, will be homeschooling my daughter.Reply

Gabriel March 20, 2012 at 10:27 PMErica, I hope one day you come back to this blog to see what seeds have sprouted.It seems your speech is making some rounds lately, it popped up on my FB feedso I was inclined to check it out. It reminds me of a farewell speech I madeover the PA on my last senior day, though I was just cracking at the surface of


over the PA on my last senior day, though I was just cracking at the surface ofwhat was wrong with our system. It'd take me a solid year to figure out theproblem extends to the very root of elementary. I've taken a few years off fromschool and I've decided to return to an engineering course of study, though Idipped my toe in economics with the intention of studying education and history aswell. I realized that I can accomplish that outside of school while learningengineering, something I'm truly gifted and interested in. I have some projects inmind and if you ever meander this way I'd love to bounce some ideas off of you.They're along the lines of economic rejuvenation, fostering creativity, andnetworking ideas. It's minds like yours, that have been freed from a contagiousapathy, that are instrumental in steering the direction of our new systems. Youhave an invaluable perception. I'll check back.Reply

Elisabeth (Bee) Drachenberg March 28, 2012 at 12:20 AMThank you SO much for sharing this with the world. The education system is inMUCH need of transformation, all over North America, and your message is VERYtimely! I am a homeschool mom of four brilliant kids and very, very proud to be!Your speech was full of wisdom and grace and, well, it took guts girl! You GO! :)Reply

Anonymous March 30, 2012 at 10:01 AMVery well said....and sooo true. I am angry and annoyed that this is what hasbecome of education. It is a complete misuse of the word!! The word "education"means "to draw out"...not fill with useless facts and information just to be testedon it later. Educators need to seek what is inside of each student and help them


on it later. Educators need to seek what is inside of each student and help themuse their passion to find meaning in their own lives...ahh, that would be nice!!Reply

Anonymous April 5, 2012 at 1:43 PMWow. You have balls, girl.Reply

Anonymous April 30, 2012 at 10:44 PMyou speak the truth! Sadly the system has nearly destroyed that creative andadventurous mind i hold so dear but I'll be graduating high school in a month andthen I can start anew!Reply

kacruiser May 2, 2012 at 12:06 AMWonderful speech!Reply

Magenta May 6, 2012 at 8:51 PMBravo!!!! you go girl!Reply


Anonymous May 7, 2012 at 12:41 PMA very true statement about global educational system not only in America butworldwide. I had exactly the same feeling while leaving the university with adiploma in my hand.I have become a teacher thanks to my chosen path at the university. Now I don'twant to do it anymore because 90% of what I teach is a complete rubish a wasteof time of everybody present. Wake up people school is not everything, in fact your mind will better of withoutthe indoctrination of the education system. We need to know about our heritage as human species, about our place in theuniverse not about all the silly wars that we fought between each other.Reply

Brainwashed5150 May 12, 2012 at 3:31 AMI can only hope that you in all of your insight have continued to learn more ofwhat matters and have found a path in the ideals of Dr. Paul. If not, well,"Ideas spread, you can't stop them. An idea whose time has come cannot bestopped by any army or any government!"~Dr.Paul Dr. Paul knows of the problems in the education system and believes that theDepartment of education is part of the problem. He wants to get rid of the Dept.of Ed. and get America's schools back on track.Of course there are many other ideas that will help restore America, please lookthem up, if you haven't already.Reply


Bookmom June 1, 2012 at 6:52 PMYou're right on the mark, and you said it very well. I know it's a year later now.

I couldn't wait for the system to be fixed, so I chose to homeschool my kids.They are freeform learners who question everything!

I wish I had the answers for how to reform the education system. There is somuch money at stake, and the teacher's union really doesn't want it changed.Reply

Anonymous June 8, 2012 at 3:15 PMYes! Perfectly said!Reply

Andrew Gatt August 26, 2012 at 10:25 PMI enjoyed your speech. I think you might under-value much of what you havelearned during your time at C-A. Yes, some classes surely placed too muchemphasis on memorizing facts that would soon be forgotten, but you could nothave done so well if you hadn't also been able to learn some skills that will beuseful to you later on. I bet you can read a complicated passage and determinewhat is truly important. I bet you can look over a classmate's lab report andfigure out where he/she went wrong. I'm sure there are many other skills thatyou have sharpened during your endless hours at school, but there is one minorskill that you obviously haven't learned. That skill is the selection of readablefonts. Yes, the script font looks cute, but it is such a chore trying to read the


fonts. Yes, the script font looks cute, but it is such a chore trying to read thecomments that others have left above. Perhaps the school system has failed youafter all...Reply

Anonymous September 5, 2012 at 12:57 AM^^^YES!Reply

Anonymous February 9, 2013 at 5:29 AMI love this blog! There is alot of useful information online if people take thetime to search it out. One great site for student loan debt iswww.federalstudentloanadvisory.usReply

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Bowen Ng February 13, 2013 at 5:49 PM"But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what I


"But now, I have successfully shown that I was the best slave. I did what Iwas told to the extreme. While others sat in class and doodled to later becomegreat artists, I sat in class to take notes and become a great test-taker. Whileothers would come to class without their homework done because they werereading about an interest of theirs, I never missed an assignment. While otherswere creating music and writing lyrics, I decided to do extra credit, even thoughI never needed it."

You're way to humble. Even though you were a slave, you were still hardworking.And the other people who didn't work hard in school most likely were goofing offrather than composing music or learning things on their own. Of course a fewmay have done those things, but not many. Better to be a hardworking slave than tobe a lazy freeman.Reply

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Krepta March 9, 2013 at 3:32 PMI totally loved your awesome speech, I think you are So Right! I was the roundpeg that never fit into the square hole at school, no matter how hard they bangedaway at me. I'm autistic, and my particular place on the spectrum means I'mhigh functioning with Asperger's, but that doesn't mean the school was anenvironment in which I could ever have excelled. Far from it. I loved learning,but hated school. If only they had fostered my genuine love of learning andhelped me, rather than try to beat me into the shape they wanted.Reply


Mani Sheriar April 3, 2013 at 12:18 PMYou are an INSPIRATION! I thank you deeply for your courage to speak outand the beauty with which you did so. I am a mom who unschools her teenage sonand I am so grateful for your speech. It was uplifting and filled me withHOPE!

Thank you!!!Reply

Anonymous April 20, 2013 at 9:11 AMthank u.. thank u...Reply

Aldilah Ap April 20, 2013 at 9:27 PMI have to share it. thank you!Reply

Anonymous April 23, 2013 at 3:44 AMAnyone feels the irony?

The rotten education system she condemned was the one that made her capable ofwriting this beautiful speech and critical thinking. By the standard of this'indoctrination' a critical student like her is a valedictorian.


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'indoctrination' a critical student like her is a valedictorian.Reply

Douglas Griffin July 15, 2013 at 10:44 PMNo irony in my book. Sure, she may have learned some writing skills andwide vocabulary. But those things on their own don't lead to joy insuccess. There are plenty of people out their who have many skills, butdo nothing with them. They are sad, angry, depressed, hopeless. Why? Possibly, because theywere never challenged or allowed to discover how to find joy in life.

Anyone, at any stage or status of life, can wake up and realize that thestate they are in is not the state they want to be in--that they are nothappy. They can realize that they have been led along, instead of receivingguidance and encouragement to chart their own course, to make mistakesand learn from them, to discover themselves and what drives them andgives them joy.

Education should not be all facts and figures. It should also provide anindividual with a tangible sense of self worth, empowerment, and theknowledge that they can find joy in anything that they choose to do, andthat those things can make a difference. This was her message.


Anonymous April 28, 2013 at 7:56 PMthanks for inspiring me :)Reply

Patrick May 13, 2013 at 6:48 AMAmazing courage! I read this speech every few months and am continuallystruck by it. I wish I had heard stuff like this when I was having the lifesucked out of me during my "12 year prison sentence" known as public education.It's funny, I couldn't tell you the topic of any graduation speech I everattended, and that includes the rants of several well-known (and highly paid)personalities, but I'll remember this speech forever. I hope you are doing welland wish you the best. Reply

Ellie Walsh May 13, 2013 at 4:37 PMBravo to You! For being the valedictorian? No ... For being true to who you are! Forstanding up for what you believe in! You are 100% correct about the purpose ofeducation .... I am hoping you will go on to teach this so your generation canindeed make the changes that are necessary!Reply

Anonymous June 5, 2013 at 7:16 PMA very, very good speech from such a young woman. I am so glad that the public


A very, very good speech from such a young woman. I am so glad that the publicschool system hasn't deceived everyone of it's students. You mentioned some keypoints about (Corporations) (Secretive government) and also the end result of thepublic school system to create servants of the system rather than critical andcreative thinkers. I would like to encourage you to learn more about the(Corpratocracy) by reading a book called (CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMICHIT MAN)by John Perkins and about the (secretive government) AKA "One WorldGovernment" or "The New World Order" if you Google those you will find tons ofevidence. The reason why I tell you this is because it will bring to light thedriving force behind all the things that are happening in the education, financial,political, medical and even the false religious systems of the world. I wouldalso like to encourage you to discover the reality of Christian faith in the Bible. Ihave been studying it for over 13 years now, and can tell you that most of theprophesies in it have been fulfilled and only a few left to be fulfilled. Here is awebsite of bible related archaeology that proves the Bible is truewyattmuseum.com and world history also proves that it is accurate to the letter.The truth in all of this I pray will lead you and others to eternal salvation inthe Kingdom of Heaven, and the fact that the one and only GOD that created allthings Loves You and wants to have a relationship with you now, and in lifeeverlasting!!! In closing you will find that this world is run by corrupt andgodless men that have no good intent for you or I, their plans are from the enemyhimself, BUT God and His children (believers) win in the end and live forever inparadise with Him,,,Learn about Gods saving plan for your life in serving Him, andin the Life to come, and His son JESUS CHRIST that paid the price for our sinsPast Present and future. May God Bless you as you move on in life!!!Reply

Anonymous July 11, 2013 at 11:17 PM


Anonymous July 11, 2013 at 11:17 PMThank you for open my mind...you just regain the lost spirit for me. and I'm sure there are so many other outthere get what I've got from your wonderful speech. Thank youReply

Anonymous July 15, 2013 at 8:43 PMThank you. You just said everything I felt my entire life in school. I wasfortunate enough to have the teacher you described in 1st and 2nd grade. Shetaught us to think, not memorize. By the time I reached high school I could havetaught every class I took. It was the same BS as the year before with a littleextra added in and it was disheartening to the point that I gave up. I chose totake in all of life had to offer those four years instead of mindless memorizationand regurgitation and had the best four years of my life. I am now 40 and regretnot molding to the institutionalization of the education system simply because ofthe benefits that would have came along with it (better paying jobs...etc). But Iwill never regret having truly lived like I never will be able to again. Bless youfor having the guts to stand up and say this. I wish more young people like youwould stand for what they believe just as you have called for them to do.Reply

Anonymous July 16, 2013 at 1:08 AMLet's go for it!Reply


meow in a hat July 16, 2013 at 2:45 AMThank you for voicing it out for us (or me at least). Till this very day, I'm stilllost.Reply

Anonymous July 16, 2013 at 2:48 AMWOW!!Reply

Anonymous July 16, 2013 at 8:31 AMJust so you know, someone created a comic out of this:http://zenpencils.com/comic/123-erica-goldson-graduation-speech/

Reply

Laura July 16, 2013 at 8:55 AMAs an educator, I cannot applaud this enough. This is basically what a lot ofschools have reduced students to, without even realizing it.Reply

Annie Purple July 16, 2013 at 11:41 AM


Annie Purple July 16, 2013 at 11:41 AMPlease tell your graphic designer that the comments font is very, very difficultto read.

I definitely agree with the speech to a large extent but not completely. When Iwas 15, I had the same thoughts, especially being in IB and having to cram myhigh school courses alongside first year university courses, then passing two setsof standardized tests (one provincial and one international). Life felt quite bleakand pointless. But we're young, and the world is an exciting place. Yes, the worldmay put rules around you to try to coop you in, to try to restrain you, so it is ourjob to break free of these boundaries. We're all the same on the inside. Don't feellike you're more enlightened than anyone else. You might be the one to put it intowords, and it resonated immensely within everybody because it's something we allfeel.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that institution does NOT control you life. Youcontrol your life. You may choose to have it clip your wings or you can become abystander. Experience the restraint in order to fly out and seek new freedoms.You're your own person now. The world is a big place, there are lots to see, lotsto experience, and lots to do.Reply

Anonymous July 16, 2013 at 11:46 AMI too am an educator and I couldn't agree more with this speech and assessmentof public school. I do what I can with the students I have to encourage them toexplore and follow their passion rather than be obedient drones. But I hopeeveryone understands that it is NOT the teachers union that is promoting themindless drivel, the teach to the test mentality, the school is about getting a job


mindless drivel, the teach to the test mentality, the school is about getting a jobperspective. This is coming from the federal governement via corporate giantswho are funding the privitization of public schools. There have always beenteachers whose efforts have been focused on drawing out what is in each child.We are being forced to test kids to death or get out of the profession. Trulyheartbreaking stuff. I have chosen so far to be the rogue teacher that supportsmy students over the system.....but who knows how long they will let me continue?Reply

Da Lavida July 18, 2013 at 12:27 AMI watch your speech is great, but in indonesia if anyone want to speech like that,the teacher will be angry, hihihi, serious.So, I want to know how US student study, I hear in USA people have goodeducation system, really? please answerReply

Hator July 19, 2013 at 10:50 AMCongratulations!! I wish I could leave my thoughts in spanish, but I will try toexpress myself in English. I am from Mexico City, I studied for many years andthen my carrer was for Interior Design, all my life have being working with theairlines, and now that I am 54 I know I could had been a great journalist.Well...I have a son and a daughter, I really believe that all my suffering (economical) has been because of their expensive schools, I dont understand whywe need to be at school for so many years learning something that we are notgoing to use and always talking about world wars. Is enough. Why they dontteach us: 1. How to love better and . 2 How to save and invest money and make


teach us: 1. How to love better and . 2 How to save and invest money and makebusiness. 3. Languages 4. Meditation 5. How to be happy 6. Everything brelating tothe death . 7. How to eat well , nutrition. etc.I really agree with everything that in this video its said. Congratulations and ifever I can help to make a change..please contact me. my e [email protected]

Rima August 1, 2013 at 1:39 PMInspiring. Impressive. Implementable.Reply

Rabbi Yonason Goldson August 2, 2013 at 2:44 PMDear Erica,

I came across this blog by chance while searching for an old article of my own -- Goldson is not a common name. As a high school teacher of twenty years, Iwonder if your teachers are as impressed with you as I would be if you weremy student. Clearly, you were fortunate to have a teacher like Donna Bryan whoencouraged you to think critically... sadly, there are too many teachers afraidbeing challenged by students who think.

However, do not assume that your years of diligence and discipline were wasted.The best rock musicians were classically trained; the greatest writers andartists spent years of painstaking effort developing their techniques. Academicdiscipline is the foundation of authentic intellectual creativity -- the problem


discipline is the foundation of authentic intellectual creativity -- the problemcomes from never departing from the mundane and reaching for the supernal.

Daniel Patrick Moynahan famously said, "You are entitled to your own opinion; youare not entitled to your own facts." Nevertheless, most people today place morevalues on feelings than on facts. If you can take your talents, your training, andyour inspiration and combine them with vision and determination, you can trulyaccomplish all that you hope to achieve.

May you have great success in all your efforts.

Rabbi Yonason GoldsonReply

Anonymous August 7, 2013 at 5:49 AMwonderful speech!!Reply

Anonymous August 9, 2013 at 11:27 AMThis font sucks assReply

Anonymous August 13, 2013 at 5:12 PMI assume that you are going to go into education in order to make a change?


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I assume that you are going to go into education in order to make a change?Otherwise you are just a critic, yet one who is very poetic due to the very peopleyou are criticizing.Reply

Daniel F.C. October 30, 2013 at 11:18 PMI guess she is just calling stuff by its name, and you have to criticize thecurrent state of things right now cause the US is not doing really good,not only in education. She doesnt have to become a teacher to make achange, she already inspired hundreds of people with her words! its up tothe listeners as well and not only up to the speaker to act. Its like thisguy said: hear the truth, from whoever speaks it.

Kumar Ayush August 15, 2013 at 7:33 AMI am from India, in Grade 12! Yeah, your speech fits our education equally well.

It's not just America which is clutched in this dilemma. With what I have seenand people I have met, it's just the whole world.Reply

Defaulted student loans August 21, 2013 at 9:34 AM


Defaulted student loans August 21, 2013 at 9:34 AMI ran across this online journal by chance while looking for an old article of myown - Goldson is not a regular name. As a secondary teacher of twenty years, Idoubt that your educators are as inspired with you as I might be whether youwere my learner. Obviously, you were favored to have an instructor like DonnaBryan who swayed you to think basically... unfortunately, there are an excessiveamount of educators perplexed being tested by understudies who consider.Reply

Ramesh chauhan August 26, 2013 at 6:22 AMhis is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog,especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess Iam not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the excellent work

Green Building - The Green Directory has the most comprehensive selection ofGreen, Eco, Sustainable, Fair Trade and Environmentally Friendly Companies,Products and Services. Use the eco directory to find green, eco, fair trade,recycled and sustainable businesses, services, news, events, articles and guides.Reply

Anonymous August 29, 2013 at 4:12 PMThank you so much :)Reply


Anonymous September 8, 2013 at 8:01 PMThis speech is truly perfect. I have always felt that the education system wasflawed and dismissal. Hopefully, Erica's speech will be able to introduce a newera where students actually look forward to school, rather than dread cominginto an environment where creativity and individuality are suppressed.Reply

kin lim September 11, 2013 at 3:51 AM


and with out sense that "I am doing the work". To find the Zen, you will put your100 % effort ( that will be equal to 25% of the total work ) your Master will putin 25 % of the work and God's Grace will do the rest of 50% of the work. It is to proveto you that you will not attain by your efforts ONLY, that the Zen Master has toldthat story.Best wishes,Reply

Teci Pulido October 5, 2013 at 2:14 PMPowerful speech, and how timely to read it on World Teachers' Day. :) I've beenteaching undergrad physics to engineers for five years and counting. Thecoursework is rigid in content and in execution, but there's still enough room toinspire students: encouraging alternative solutions to a problem, reminding whythey need this for their work in the future, showing fun applications and evenanalogies to current events or life in general. Teachers need to remind the class*why* something needs to be learned, so we ourselves need to be convinced of thesignificance of each topic. Every now and then we have "joke time" to keep thingslight, and I always start the class by writing a verse from the Bible. I've always been an outlier, anti-establishment student, so now I am working*against* the flaws of the system but working from within. I'm happy to say thatmany students respond to my approach without compromising the standards ofthe school (and ultimately the companies who will hire them).Of course, the issue of which subjects to teach would be up to the schools andlocal government. And parents/families should also reclaim their responsibilityas the primary educators and role models of their children. Thank you for this video. God bless and be with you more!Reply


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Ahmad Saleh October 22, 2013 at 1:39 PMthank you , really I appreciate your brave attitude . It`s essential problemwhich must be solved . I have faced the same when I was studying at collage .Reply

Daniel F.C. October 30, 2013 at 8:01 PMDear Erica,

U know, I will graduate in about 2 weeks and now that it is over I feel the sameway u did with respect to the fact that the past is long gone. I wasted a lot ofmy fucking time and mind in stupid prerequisites to go into the faculty ofbusiness. Thank god I am not you and I did like shit in said prerequisites so Idid not get in. I instead had to go with my original plan, go study economics!! thatsubject I always felt attracted to. Yeah I do like econ, but I enjoy history morethan economics, and cooking and music and fucking fancy photographs (tho I canttake a decent one). I noticed that almost at the end of my degree and it was alittle late for me, tho I made my last months worth a lot. Well, if you did go touniversity you should be close to getting your certificate of 'fit for employment',well good luck with that shit b/c in this economy you cannot even get a decent job,the system you criticized is not even able to enslave us fucking decently. Youknow, I was gonna give u some advice for the remainder of your schooling period,but what can I tell to the girl that when finished high school came to the samerealizations I came to when finishing college?? (and worded them way better),maybe just this: fucking enjoy your last years of schooling, it is the last time intime when LEARNING is so constant (tho sometimes youll be learning shit) and


time when LEARNING is so constant (tho sometimes youll be learning shit) andtruly last year of college is pretty damn good.

ps: change your font for god's sake, you can barely read the comments!

best wishes,

DFC

Reply

Anonymous November 25, 2013 at 1:49 AMape kek kenen coment2 ni..Reply

tam nguyen December 29, 2013 at 5:53 AMSo great speech!!! I can't agree with you more. I've been translated toVietnamese. Thank you for your speech! You will change the world!Reply

Anonymous February 20, 2014 at 10:34 AMThat was amazing.Reply


Teguh Gw March 26, 2014 at 5:45 AMThanks, that I finally found this original speech. I've heard this since long timeago but I just found the translation. Now I have to tell my colleagues to saygood bye to America's educational system. As I found this transcript, I sharedit in fb.Thanks, Erica. You've just open our eyes. Congratulations!Reply

Anonymous March 27, 2014 at 6:58 PMThis has actually made me think a lot, well done!Reply

Anonymous April 6, 2014 at 3:05 AMcoolReply

Huy Profile April 14, 2014 at 11:16 PMawesome!I Like itReply


Andrew Tezzla May 21, 2014 at 1:45 PMYou're an inspiration, and know that there are more out there like you.Reply

Anonymous May 27, 2014 at 7:24 PMShe couldn't manage to do well in school and develop interests at the same time?This is not the norm. Christ, I hate rich white girls.Reply

Anonymous June 15, 2014 at 4:14 PMAbsolutely inspiring.

My experiencing in public school was a lot more positive: quite a few of myteachers made it a point to focus on making sure students LEARNED, and didn'tjust study for state tests, but I'm acutely aware I got lucky.Reply

Anonymous June 17, 2014 at 3:47 PMAmazing. Thank you.Reply


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vanz73 June 19, 2014 at 4:03 PMAs a dyslexic I struggled hugely with grade school--a "B" grade was a greatgrade for me. However, that rote learning process helped me uncover my mostimportant lesson in school--specifically how to cope with learning with mydifferent mind. College was challenging, but less so as I took more advancedclasses. My masters program, in finance, was very challenging and ridiculouslyrewarding--my final GPA was 3.6 (undergrad was 2.6). My point is that there istruth in your words but not as much as most would ascribe. While many will bedrawn to your call to action to overturn the current program, I don't believe itis as broken as you describe. And the uncollege movement is driven in part by ourcountry's obsession with everyone getting a college degree. That's just not thebest path for everyone. However getting a degree, in any subject, helps manypeople think more effectively, understand how to break down problems andcreate solutions, sometimes innovative ones. For every Mark Zuckerberg whomade his billions dropping out of college there are tens of thousands who didn'tbut still dropped out of college. I admire your spirit and I expect you'llaccomplish great things. However I also expect your views will moderate overtime, particularly if you become a parent.Reply


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Man Khan September 24, 2014 at 7:21 AMyou must understand, what and why we study?Reply

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Sara Matthews May 11, 2015 at 11:56 AMExtraordinary insight and the courage to share it - publicly and at a pivotalmoment when your audience was likely expecting something else entirely...

Most valedictorian's speeches stroke the system - one more compliant essaybasically on compliance - and yours tried to awaken it to its injustices. Wonderfulthat you gave a shout-out to your teacher/mentor -Sincere good wishes for the journey ahead - your gift is vision and courage both.

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Admin June 18, 2015 at 10:46 PMAmazing speech! Thank you for having the courage to do this. I know I'm a littlelate here, but wanted to stop in and give you some props. I hope in the years sinceyou've been living a wonderful life. You're a beautiful person and have a greatmessage that people need to hear. Thanks again. If you want to connect or findmy work come on over to nutritionphilosophyfreedom.comReply


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Helix Institute August 12, 2015 at 2:37 AMLike your way of seeing things! Still you may do some things to expand on it.Thanks for sharing with us!

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hudi August 13, 2015 at 7:58 PMspeech to waking up educators for being better, good luck ericaReply

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Anonymous August 14, 2015 at 3:31 AMAbolutely you are right, I am very respect on your speech. congratulation tofind your self.Reply

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