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Channel: @TEDx
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Character Lab Research Director Andrew Sokatch has a sobering yet attainable message regarding the education of today's youth. While test scores and the reading, writing, math, science behind them are important, we are not properly and wholly educating our children if we aren't alsoteaching character. Andrew argues character can and should be taught in schools, noting grit, persistence, self-control, courage, and humor, are all critical life skills for successful employment, marriages, and citizenship.
Having taught elementary, middle school, college, and graduate school students, and spending over a decade leading teacher quality research at Teach For America and The New Teacher Project, Andrew Sokatch is currently being humbled and inspired daily as a parent of two young children.
All of which is to say he has spent a lot time thinking about what it means to be an effective educator, and has become singularly dissatisfied by the narrow current conversation over teacher quality. In his desire to broaden and deepen the definition of what it means to provide high quality education for all children, Andrew has recently joined the new nonprofit, Character Lab, as the founding director of research.
The “Game Changer” Andrew most admires is Robert Moses (the civil rights icon, not the destroyer of NYC), because he had a singular vision and plan and the courage to make it happen. In a field of giants he is one of the (mostly) unacknowledged truly great ones. Also, Joey Ramone.
Andrew’s favorite TED talk: “Two Nerdy Obsessions Meet And its Magic” by David Kwong
About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)