Giants on the Shoulders of Giants

Speech delivered at 2010 K-Central Commencement. This also appeared in the August 2010 Excelsior.

President Obama, Secretary of Education Duncan, Governor Granholm, Members of the Board of Education, Mayor Hopewell, Members of the City Commission, Principal Washington, Distinguished Staff, Honored Guests, and, most importantly, the Graduating Class of 2010, it is a pleasure to be here to celebrate in the success of this group of young people. Could we please have a big round of applause for our Class of 2010?

Class of 2010, I am under no illusion — or delusion — that I am the featured speaker here this evening. However, I hope that a few things that I say tonight stick with you. I want to talk about three things this evening: Giants earning their way, Giants on the shoulders of Giants, and Giants helping to create other Giants.

Giants Earning Their Way.

Once upon a time, a man prayed to win the lottery but didn’t, prayed a second time to win the lottery but didn’t. On the third time, he looked up and said, “Why don’t you answer my prayer? Suddenly, a voice came back from the great beyond: “Do me a favor: Buy a ticket.”

We are very appreciative of The Kalamazoo Promise, appreciative of the anonymous donors, appreciative of the efforts of former Superintendent Dr. Janice Brown, appreciative of the fact that for so many of you and your parents, school will be tuition-free in the fall. You are the first class to enter high school to know that if you graduate from KPS, tuition will be free for you. Make no mistake about it, however: no cost in dollars to you for your courses is different than no price. You’ve worked hard in high school, and will work harder in college. You are paying for your experience in time, energy, attention, focus, hard work, and drive.

No, you can’t win the lottery without buying a ticket. Faith without work, whatever that work is, really is dead. That’s why it’s impossible to be truly successful in school without putting in the time and effort. And you have. Two years ago, I asked a large group of Central students to raise their hands if they were taking or had taken an Advanced Placement class. One student raised his hand; he is graduating today. Let’s try it tonight: Raise your hand if you have taken an AP course in high school.

Compare this year to two years ago. Seventy-one (71) percent more students across the district at Kalamazoo Central and at Loy Norrix have taken AP courses this year compared to two years ago, and students have taken 79 percent more AP courses. Economically disadvantaged students, African-American students, and Latino students have all more than doubled their AP participation in the last two years.

Of those of you who are graduating from KPS this week at Central, Phoenix, or Norrix, 96 percent will likely go to some form of postsecondary education, roughly the percentage last year. That’s up from 84 percent in June 2005, before The Promise was announced. You’re Giants rising to the challenges that we have put before you, and you should be commended for your efforts.

Giants on the Shoulders of Giants.

Now just because you’ve earned your high school diplomas and the right to enter college, it doesn’t mean that you did it by yourselves. We’re all on the shoulders of others. We all have giants in our lives, people without whose help we wouldn’t be where we are today. Maybe it was your parents or grandparents, your teachers, counselors, administrators, coaches, or some other significant individuals in your lives. Regardless of the shoulders on which you stand, it’s important to recognize that you didn’t get here
by yourselves. If you haven’t thanked the giants in your lives, it’s time to do so. If you haven’t thanked them recently, it would be a good idea. You never know how long the giants in your life will be with you to thank.

We have three giants from Kalamazoo with us tonight on the stage. Teachers Richard “Rick” Kahow and Holly Stevenson have taught a combined 78 years in KPS and have challenged their students in myriad ways. Pat Coles-Chalmer has worked in the district for 31 years, the last nine-and-a-half years as the assistant superintendent for teaching and learning services. Before that, she was the principal of Martin Luther King Jr. in Westwood Elementary School for 15 years, where she was principal for many of you. Like a number of colleagues in the district, these three giants are retiring after decades of distinguished service to students. Can we give it up not just for these three giants, but for ALL the giants on whose shoulders you stand today?

Giants Helping to Create Other Giants.

Class of 2010, you know that we are working hard to create a college-going culture in the district, working hard to become a literacy community in Kalamazoo. I say working hard because we haven’t arrived yet. We have certainly accomplished a lot as a community. But Class of 2010, we need your help to get to the next level.

“To whom much is given, much … is required.” Now the fact is that the giants on whose shoulders you are standing, the giants who have helped you in your lives, most of them don’t need anything from you. They were giants in your lives because it was the right thing to do … but you can’t pay them back. They don’t need what you have to offer. But the students coming up behind you do. You can’t pay your giants back, but you can sure pay it forward. Help us help the next wave of students, your sisters and brothers and friends and children in the neighborhoods in which you grew up. Help us help them be successful in school, in their broader education, and in life. To whom much is given, much is required. You have been blessed with The Kalamazoo Promise and with the giants in your live. If you aren’t already, it’s time for you to step up and be a giant in the life of someone else.

Langston Hughes, the great African-American poet, wrote many beautiful poems about dreams in his life. In the poem “Broken-Winged Bird,” Hughes wrote, “Hold fast to dreams/For
if dreams die/Life is a broken-winged bird/That cannot fly.”

In the poem “Mother to Son,” Hughes spoke less of the importance of holding fast to one’s dreams as he did the importance of hanging on, hanging in, hanging tough. In “Mother to Son,” Hughes wrote,

Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no
crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it
And splinters
And boards torn up
And places with no carpet
on the floor
Bare.
But all the time
I’ve been a climbin’ on
And reachin’ landins’
And turnin’ corners
And sometimes goin’ in the
dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
Cause you finds it’s
kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now.
Cause I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t
been no crystal stair.

Class of 2010, you are capable of so much, so much more than many give you credit for. You are the new dreamers, capable of accomplishing anything to which you set your minds. You are Giants earning your way, Giants on the shoulders of Giants, and Giants helping to create other Giants. Hold fast to your dreams. Let no one define you but yourself. I congratulate you, I salute you, and I wish you all the very best in the future. Thank you.
 

Michael F. Rice, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Kalamazoo Public Schools

Dr. Rice gave a similar speech to students at Phoenix and Loy Norrix at their June graduations as well.