Every kid needs a champion (everywhere)

Recently, I watched this great Ted Talk (8 minutes) by Rita Pierson. The title is "Every kid needs a champion." I would extend that to say "Everywhere."

Although she is speaking to a US audience, the talk is relevant to educators anywhere.

Rita speaks to the importance of relationships,apologies, and self-worth. These values and actions are universal in my experience:

• Students everywhere value teachers who care about them.
• Students respect educators who are not afraid to admit when they have made a mistake.
• The self-worth of students grows when the teacher demonstrates a genuine respect for them.

Children around the world need educators who demonstrate trust, respect, and care.

Most countries around the world have committed to ensuring that every child can go to school (Millennium Development Goal #2: universal primary education).

What we need now is a commitment to ensure that those schools are not only full of children but of teachers who bring joy to the learning experiences of the students.