Tag Archives: commencement

Commencement. Commencing What?

by

Tomorrow my students are graduating with their B.Ed. There will be the usual big ceremony, the speeches, the dinner and so on and so on….. Each year over and over like a giant gristmill.

I’m happy with my students. So happy. Also very proud of this bunch of new teachers, they kept their idealism and passion all year and no doubt will bring this energy into teaching, into education. I’m so happy they are graduating. However, I’m not going to be there.

More and more, coming to the realization (for me) that graduation isn’t celebrating the right things. Rather, it is celebrating completions rather than beginnings. Or rather beginnings rather than continuings. It is all about “getting them out the door”. Schools and higher education especially, have become depersonalizing exercises and experiences. Big business. I’m generalizing of course, I know there are programs out there that keep more community after graduation than just sending an alumni donation request and a reunion appeal. I know there are schools out there who are more about fostering lifelong learning than making the time students spend there into a competitive 100m dash. I know. However, it’s summer and again I’m discontent, so I’m not going.

A few commencement addresses this season (yeah, it is a season, kind of like sports, a lifting of the cup and then it is a whole new go around) have tried to be honest about what school is. Michael Lewis stirred things up by bluntly telling graduates they were “lucky” and there (at Princeton) because of luck, not merit. David McCullough looked graduates straight in the eye and told them “you’re not special”. Hard realism and though it has good shock value, it is not the message I would give. I’ll let you guess what I’d do (if you’ve read this far) but it would be similar to the exhortation of my fav. graduation speech by Bill Cosby.

I’m not making much sense and now talking to myself, about why I’m not going to commencement. Usually the truest things are those you are least able to describe…….


Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0
If you liked this post, you might enjoy – Teaching is …

My Favorite Graduation Speech

by

It’s that time of year – graduation! Full of commencement addresses and speeches. I’ve got to give my share and I’m always reminded of this time of year by the traffic level hitting this one post; Graduation Speech.

For those who haven’t seen it, I’d like to share one of the finest (and funniest) graduation speeches – Bill Cosby speaking to new Carnegie Mellon graduates. He tells a special story in the unique way that only he can. It means a lot, what it says – so I won’t ruin it for you with my own pauper’s words and pretense. Watch, enjoy and celebrate. Really and truly we each graduate, each and every day that we “learn”. Your students can practice this speech on EnglishCentral too!


Find more videos like this on EFL CLASSROOM 2.0

Teaching is ….

by

This is an abridged version of my closing graduation speech I recently gave (and blogged about) where I work. Words to those entering the teaching profession. Something more heartfelt and personal.

Sorry for the bad audio but I did this in one take and without any notes…. just thoughts in my head.


FULL SCREEN


Here are a few photos (I’m horrible about taking photos!)

The #1 ….. (non academic speech on education)

by

Number One** Not your ordinary, endless list – just what’s number 1.

Bill Cosby’s Carnegie Mellon Commencement Address.

Here it is below. It is beyond comment. Just listen. Perfect delivery, even students of higher levels can follow and understand. The message is immortal and I listen to this over and over, whenever I need the “will to carry on”. Inspiring. Please tell us what it means to you.