Posted on 06/08/2012 5:46:21 AM PDT by j_tull
For those of you who have long since gotten sick of the trend among education experts toward “self esteem” rather than actual learning, this story will be extremely cathartic.
Wellesley High School teacher David McCullough, Jr. (son of historian David McCullough) had apparently had enough of feeding blithering platitudes to his students and decided to tell the truth. The result sparked controversy among the parents, who didn’t like hearing their children accused of being cosseted and pampered little brats who believed they were special for no reason. But sometimes the truth hurts. Read the greatest hits below:
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
Good speech!
What with speeches at my own graduations, my wife’s, those of our four kids and then assorted relatives & friends, I’ve heard a few commencement speeches over the years.
Among the very best was one given to the HS graduating class in our small Appalachian town by an alumnus, Nick Searcy.
Nick is Hollywood actor, famous locally for his part as the sheriff in the (partly) locally filmed Harrison Ford movie, The Fugitive. He also played in Nell, Cast Away, Head of State, and as the abusive husband in Fried Green Tomatoes, who end up in the BBQ.
His speech was not what one might expect from a “Hollywood type” and was in a similar vein to this speech by Wellesley High School teacher David McCullough, Jr.
Teach kids that which is Truth, teach them to recognize Truth and teach them to deal with the truth about themselves and the world around them. This is the antithesis of Political Correctness and the essence of a classical education.
Bravo! This is the kind of speech I would have given, which explains why I never will be asked to give one ;-)
That is what the audience was doing at my brother’s high school graduation. Our school was fortunate to get Alan Keyes as the commencement speaker. As Alan Keys does, he made it clear as to the source of our liberties and our responsibilites as citizens of the country.
There was quite a bit of squirming and unease in the audience that day, back in 1994.
Helen: Dashiell Robert Parr, you are an incredibly competitive boy, and a bit of a show-off. The last thing you need is temptation.
Dash: You always say ‘Do your best’, but you don’t really mean it. Why can’t I do the best that I can do?
Helen: Right now, honey, the world just wants us to fit in, and to fit in, we gotta be like everyone else.
Dash: But Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.
Helen: Everyone’s special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.
Great movie.
http://www.theswellesleyreport.com/2012/06/wellesley-high-grads-told-youre-not-special/
The direct link so you can skip the Blaze.
I wouldn’t have found it, but for The Blaze; I have no problem posting their link.
Other than the part about selflessness vs. selfishness, I like the speech. The use of language was extraordinary. Perhaps I’ll have my college freshmen learn all of the words in the speech. That could be a great vocabulary building exercise.
Excellent post, excellent speech. It’s about doing things for others and not for self. Seems Jesus tried to teach that...and they crucified him.
“It has also been used to justify the actions of our enemies.”
Only when misinterpreted, or when misused in discussion by atheists including Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.
To know Jesus Christ is to understand and to revere the second most important Commandment.
I’m wondering if the kids listening would interpret “You’re not special” as meaning “You’re not mentally handicapped.”
I have a special nephew.
Anyway, I was thinking about my kid. He was in no way special when he graduated (I wonder what the stats are in regards to U.S. graduation rates and how many graduates can read their diploma) but he is now. He joined the Corps.
by enemies, I was referring to more of the head-choppy/human claymore variety.
I was taught that this life is it, there is no after life to speak of, no "happy hunting grounds". What we do with our lives, the path we follow, the way we live must be done in a particular way to reach balance, to remain in harmony/beauty, the term is 'hozro' but it doesn't lend itself to description.
But your cosmology is refuted by the fact that physical, concrete reality cannot produce—intrinsic to itself—a coherent explanation for its existence.
“happy days are here again....”
True, but for myself, if I follow His call and become half the man he calls me to be, I'd sure be more than twice the man I am now. If we could simply follow the Greatest Commandment, we'd be quite far along to making the green hills of earth a reflection of heaven itself.
an assumption. My beliefs are not based upon purely physical and/or observable reality. We were not always in this world or in this form.
Keeping with the thread topic, much of the current trends in society are incongruent with my beliefs.
Neal Boortz Faux Commencement Speech:
http://www.boortz.com/news/news/local-education/commencement-speech/nCG7H/
Neal didn’t deliver this for a commencement but he did deliver it to a happy crowd at Kennesaw State University all to benefit Make A Wish Foundation May 20, 2009.
The following poem was not found in an old Baltimore church:
Introduction
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.....
Deteriorata! Deteriorata!
Go placidly
Amid the noise and waste.
And remember what comfort there may be
In owning a piece thereof.
Avoid quiet and passive persons
Unless you are in need of sleep.
Ro-tate your tires.
Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself
And heed well their advice,
Even though they be turkeys.
Know what to kiss.....and when!
Consider that two wrongs never make a right
But that THREE.........do.
Wherever possible, put people on hold.
Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment
And despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer main-te-nance.
Chorus
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.
Remember the Pueblo.
Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mu-ti-late.
Know yourself.
If you need help, call the FBI.
Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you.
That lemon on your left, for instance.
Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.
Fall not in love therefore;
It will stick to your face.
Gracefully surrender the things of youth:
The birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan
And let not the sands of time
Get in your lunch.
Hire people with hooks.
For a good time call 606-4311;
Ask for "Ken."
Take heart amid the deepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.
And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.
Chorus
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.
Therefore, make peace with your god
Whatever you conceive him to be---
Hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.
With all its hopes, dreams, promises and urban renewal
The world continues to deteriorate.
GIVE UP!
Reprise
You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.
Performed by National Lampoon on "National Lampoon Radio Dinner," a 1972 recording by Blue Thumb Records. Lyrics by Tony Hendra.
LOL, I had forgotten about that. Now on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey6ugTmCYMk
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