TED Talk- Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers’ TED talk was an idea that was so creative and fun. He turned a shop that he and co-workers used for magazine and book editing, and used it to put their skills to further use. This idea is so obvious, yet it is so unique. Why didn’t I think of this? That is the question that is going through my head right now. Dave opened a “pirate supply store” called 826 Valencia, a place to edit magazines and books. He thought, why not put our skills , as editors, to further use? So, he opened the front of the building as a free tutoring center for kids. During his talk, Dave talked about how enthusiastic these kids were to improve their English skills in a fun environment. Unlike classrooms, 826 Valencia gave one on one help and had the creative freedom, classes sometimes restricted.

Dave was so enthusiastic about what he was talking about; he was lost for words almost at the beginning. He saved himself though humor and passion. As a listener, you knew Dave had enthusiasm for what he and his co-workers were doing. He was real, not just helping kids for money, but for the sake of just helping kids. During his speech Dave also showed the audience pictures of other “stores” that had kind-of copied the idea of 826 Valencia.

What is important to take away from this video is learning can be fun. These students chose to show up everyday to be tutored. The volunteers also chose to give their time to these children. This is a fun learning environment with creative freedom. Classrooms in school are filled with fluorescent lighting, walls painted faded white, and boring desks all lined in a row. Just thinking about sitting in a room like that for an hour makes me tired. 826 Valencia looked at learning through a new perspective. Sometimes learning in a fun, distracting environment can give inspiration, like the pirate supply store. I don’t know any kids who look forward to sitting through a one hour class in a boring, jail-like classroom with a teacher who seems just as bored and unenthusiastic as the students. What is sad is that is what most schools are like. Dave is explaining with passion and freedom, education can change and students can be excited to learn. What Eggers is doing relates to another TED talk I watched by Barry Shcwartz. Mr. Shcwartz was talking about how we need to have practical wisdom in order to form a better society. Dave is the perfect example of this. He is helping others for the good of society, and not himself. More people like Dave need to step out and help change the world. As a student, I need teachers who will come to class not just enthusiastic about the subject, but creative as well. I need a teacher who will push me and support me, yet make class fun. I love to learn about subjects that are interesting, why can’t most teachers teach a subject and make it interesting?