Tedxnola - Sue brown - Earth education

Let's get those kids out there, those students out of the desks, out to the woods and the creeks and the swamps, and raise their test scores. That's what I want to talk to you. Think about the time that you learned something the best, really held on to something. You were probably doing something, or sensing it, or experiencing it. And those experiences are the ones that help us develop intense knowledge of ourselves, connections with others and connections with a larger world. And I have had the opportunity, for the last 25 years, to witness and to help children from all over New Orleans be able to immerse themselves in some amazing "aha" moments, out there in the world. So, 1985, I was a teacher in New Orleans public schools. Fifth grade. And my students did what I'm sure most of us kind of admit to doing. We were learning and then taking a test, and then, promptly, dumping it. Well, what I wanted my students to do was learn it and hold on to it, for not just this test, but all the tests and the real tests of life. And so, what I found out with those students was that I could take them outdoors, and I did, to a natural area, for five days and four nights. And I was able to teach them amazing, creative, wonderful things, their academics, the things that they needed so badly. Now, this wasn't taking them -- I want to make it real clear -- it wasn't taking them to a camp, it was taking them to an outdoor, true outdoor classroom. So, I made sure that we had amazing activities, that were things that the kids could understand and I could teach them farther and longer and better than what I could in the classroom. And so, after doing that for ten years, I was able to start a New Orleans nonprofit, called "TREE", Teaching Responsible Earth Education, and expanded our programs to forth through seventh grade, and we were working at both ends of that. And it was able to take all of the students that we could, and they could, afford to have out there. Well, this gave a whole new meaning to this, because I was able to now hear what teachers had to say, besides my own self, besides having my own perspective. And what I heard was that the kids were learning amazing things, and their academics was wonderful. But what was even more highlighted by the teachers was the connections that those kids made to each other. The kid that wouldn't even sit and talk to the kid next to him, now they have found them being new friends. And the kid that could went out there and, in school, couldn't sit still or was having struggles with learning, they were the ones that shone. They were the ones out in the outdoor classroom that became the leaders. Their bodies weren't confined. They had minds that were -- and their street smarts came out. And teachers looked at them differently, the other kids looked at them differently. And when these kids went back to the classroom, they began -- there was a whole new dynamic there and the child owned the information that they got. So then, Katrina came. You've heard eloquent speakers here, telling us about how wonderful the opportunities and the things that we are really getting to do in our school system. And that's been wonderful. But we also hear about teachers that are frustrated and parents, and with all of the things coming down about having to push and push and push. And, of course, we want our kids to learn. Make no mistake about that! But we also know that there's ways that we're pushing and saying, "More time in seats, more time in desks". And that isn't the only thing that will get our test scores up. And so, we found out with Katrina that, but we also found out with Katrina another thing, that kids need something that we've been giving them all along, but they needed totally now, was immersion in the outdoor world to be able to have time there, solitude, time to reflect, see what was inside them and inside all of the others that were around them. And I can tell you amazing poetry would come out of these kids. Forth to seventh graders, and they wanted to share with everyone. It changes their perspective. It changes their lives. And what we saw was kids -- a seventh grader summed it up, and he said, "You know, when I look out here, I see tree and I hear birds and I have peace with my friends. When I look outdoors in my house, at home, I see flashing blue police lights". It changes lives. And so, that's what we'd had the wonder to do. We know that things are happening, that are in the schools, and we know that we can see what we need are those three things all together. And I would love you to look in their eyes and see those kids being out there and the excitement. And the three things are: superb academics, that's really important; but also connections to others and outdoor world, a relationship with it. It is so important to hold those three things together. Let's get those like a way for all the kids in New Orleans to get out of the desks and out there! Thanks. (Applause)