I JUST SUED THE SCHOOL SYSTEM !!! [Russian translation]

Albert Einstein once said everyone’s a genius

but if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree

it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury

today on trial we have modern day schooling

Glad you could come

Not only does he make fish climb trees

he also makes them climb down

and do a 10 mile run

Tell me school: are you proud of the things you’ve done?

turning millions of people into robots

Do you find that fun?

Do you realize how many children relate to that fish

swimming upstream in class

never finding their gifts

thinking they are stupid

believing they are useless?

Wel,l the time has come

no more excuses

I call school to the stand

and accuse him of killing creativity, individuality and being intellectually abusive

he’s an ancient institution that has outlived his usage

So your honor, this concludes my open statement

and if I may present the evidence of my case

I will prove it

Proceed!

Exhibit A: Here’s a modern day phone, recognize it?

Now here’s a phone from 150 years ago

Big difference right?

Stay with me

Here’s a car from today and here’s a car from 150 years ago

Big difference right?

Well get this: here’s a classroom of today and here’s a class we used 150 years ago

Now ain’t that a shame?

In literally more than a century

nothing has changed

yet you claim to prepare students for the future

But with evidence like that

I must ask:

Do you prepare students for the future or the past?

I did a background check on you

and let the record show that you were made to train people to work in factories

which explains why you put students in straight rows nice and neat

Tell 'em: sit still, raise your hand if you want to speak

give them a short break to eat

and for eight hours a day tell them what to think

Oh and make them compete to get an A

a letter which determines product quality

Hence grade A of meat

I get it.

Back then times where different

We all have a past

I myself am no Ghandi

But today we don’t need to make robot zombies

The world has progressed

And now we need people who think

creatively,

innovatively,

critically,

independently

with the ability to connect

See, every scientist will tell you that no two brains are the same

And every parent with two or more children will confirm that claim

So please explain

why you treat students like cookie cutter frames

or snap back hats giving them this one size fits all crap

Watch your language!

Sorry your honor!

But if a doctor prescribed the exact same medicine to all of his patients

the results would be tragic

So many people would get sick

Yet, when it comes to school

this is exactly what happens.

This educational malpractice

where one teacher stands in front of 20 kids

each one having different strengths

different needs

different gifts

different dreams

and you teach the same thing the same way.

that’s horrific

Ladies and gentlemen, the defendant should not be acquitted

This may be one of the worst criminal offenses ever to be committed.

And let’s mention the way you treat your employees

Objection!

Overruled. I wanna hear this!

It’s a shame

I mean, teachers have the most important job on the planet

yet they are underpaid

No wonder why so many students are shortchanged.

Let’s be honest

Teachers should earn just as much as doctors

Because a doctor can do heart surgery and save the life of a kid.

But a great teacher can reach the heart of that kid and allow him to truly live

See, teachers are heroes that often get blamed.

But they're not the problem

They work in a system without many options or rights

Curriculums are created by policy makers

most of which have never taught a day in their life

Just obsessed with standardized tests

they think bubbling in a multiple choice question will determine success

That’s outlandish

in fact these test are to crude to be used and should be abandoned.

But don’t take my word for it.

take Fredrick J Keely

the man who invented standardized testing

who said and I quote “These tests are too crude to be used and should be abandoned”

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury

if we continue down this road the results will be lethal

I don’t have much faith in school

but I do have faith in people

and if we can customize health care,

cars

and Facebook pages

then it is our duty to do the same for education to

upgrade it,

change it,

do away with school spirit.

Because that’s useless

unless we are working to bring the spirit out of each and every student

that should be our task.

No more common core

Instead, let’s reach the core of every heart in every class

Sure, math is important

but no more than art or dance

let’s give every gift an equal chance

I know this sounds like a dream,

but countries like Finland are doing impressive things

they have shorter days,

teachers make a decent wage,

homework is non existent

and they focus on collaboration instead of competition.

But here’s the kicker, boys and girls:

Their educational system

outperforms every other country in the world.

Other places like Singapore are succeeding rapidly

schools like Montessori

programs like Khan Academy

there is no single solution

But let’s get moving because while students may be 20% of our population

They are 100% of our future

So let’s attend to their dreams

and there’s no telling what we can achieve

This is a world in which I believe

A world where fish are no longer forced to climb trees

I rest my case

• Artist:Prince Ea