(This week we present an abridged version of Dr. Grauer’s Keynote address to the graduating sixth grade class, because we believe it has relevance to graduates of all ages!)
Sixth graders, normally at graduations and important ceremonies there is a keynote speaker to give advice and set the tone for the day. I am going to try and give a keynote speech like that today, so thank you in advance for listening.
Long ago, before automobile odometers and GPSs, people knew how far along they were on their path by putting a big stone on the side of the road every mile. Over time, the idea of the milestone stood for any time in life you take a big step ahead to the next phase of your life. Sixth grade graduation is a milestone, because as soon as you step out that door, for the first time in your lives you will be secondary schoolers. You have successfully completed elementary school. One purpose of elementary school that you are just now finishing is to learn the skills for high school and to learn to love learning.
And I loved watching you do that around the campus, out of the field, in all your classes I visited, and picking jellybeans out of the bowl in my office.
But secondary school? The purpose of that is to prepare to leave home. Wow! So if elementary grade is fun, secondary school is serious fun! Starting next year, your level or academic rigor will go up. Hold on to your hat. Your level of independence will go up. Even if you get a tummyache, your mom will no longer write you a note to get you out of your work. You will be on the path to college and adulthood. You will begin discovering the world outside our school and community. If you want to see some astonishing evidence of these discoveries, come to senior graduation later today.
I want to thank your teachers, especially, for having the courage to focus on great values like: kindness, hard work and resourcefulness—these are 21st century values that we are in deep need of, and it takes very special educators to convey them.
To you graduates, I would like to say: Good luck in discovering the world. You have already been with us to places far and wide like Big Bear Mountain and Julian, and on many day trips. The fourteen of you sixth graders logged almost 300 hours of community service work, averaging about 18 hours each. You can see why our motto as a school is important: Learn by Discovery. You are ready to do that now.
You might be asking, what if secondary school is scary or overwhelming? Maybe you will be lost in a forest or mountain. Maybe you will get your first kiss. Maybe you will find what you want to be when you grow up. Maybe you will have a school subject that you can only understand if you spend hours and hours of extra time. What if you feel you have no friends some day? You may find out the world is incredibly funny and also incredibly sad. Maybe at the same time. Well, believe it or not, I hope some things are difficult or overwhelming at some points. These challenges will help turn you into the deep and understanding person you will need to be, like the students you know from our senior class.
6th grade graduates, it’s now time for a very special kind of fun: summer fun. You are done with elementary school. I hope summer will mean open space for you. No teachers to tell you what to do. I challenge every parent and student to remove any and all digital technology and to not tell your student a single thing to do for any period of a few days. See what you can make of this on your own. What will you do if there is just you, the world and the day before you—nobody else planning for you. No technology.
Students, it is time to find your own books to read—not just what others want you to read. Time to make up your own games! Time to study something you are just plain curious about, for no reason. Our coach Trevor didn’t spend all year teaching you sports so you would depend upon him—he needs you to call up your friends now, on your own, and get some games going for yourself! Learn how to make your own favorite meal. Our music and art teachers didn’t spend all year teaching you arts so that you would not know what to do! Make some art that is for you and no one else. Dare to be bored, so that finally you must, you must, on your own, with no parent or teacher advice, figure out what you want to do. Summer time is time for unschool, and you need tons of that. Here is something that it is extremely important for you to understand: You need unschool at least as much as you need school. Good luck.
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