my goal was simple:

當我在 2010 年 創辦莫特山學院的時候，

open a school to close a prison.

我的目標很簡單：

Now to some, this was an audacious goal,

開辦一所學校來關閉一所監獄。

because our school is located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn --

這可能對於一些人來說， 是個很冒險的目標，

one of the most underserved and violent neighborhoods

因為我們的學校坐落在 布魯克林的布朗斯維爾，

in all of New York City.

這是整個紐約城服務與設施 最匱乏和暴力的社區之一。

Like many urban schools with high poverty rates,

和很多擁有高貧困率的 城區學校一樣，

we face numerous challenges,

我們面臨著諸多挑戰，

like finding teachers who can empathize

比如尋找能同情弱勢社區 複雜情況的老師，

with the complexities of a disadvantaged community,

缺少科技教育設施資金，

lack of funding for technology,

家長參與度低，

low parental involvement

和會早在孩子四年級 就開始吸收的社區幫派。

and neighborhood gangs that recruit children as early as fourth grade.

所以，我來了，

So here I was,

一個地區公立初中的創始校長，

the founding principal of a middle school that was a district public school,

而且我只有 45 個學生，

and I only had 45 kids to start.

30% 的學生還有特教需要，

Thirty percent of them had special needs.

86% 的學生數學和英語不達標，

Eighty-six percent of them were below grade level

全部學生都過著赤貧的生活。

in English and in math.

如果這些學生不在我們的教室裡，

And 100 percent were living below the poverty level.

他們怎麼學習？

If our children are not in our classrooms,

如果他們不學習，

how will they learn?

他們最後會流落何方？

And if they're not learning,

在我問我 13 歲的學生時， 這暴露無遺，

where would they end up?

「年輕人，

It was evident when I would ask my 13-year-old,

你覺得五年後你會在幹嘛？」

"Young man,

然後他回答：

where do you see yourself in five years?"

「我不知道我會不會活那麼久？」

And his response:

或者是有一個年輕女士對我說，

"I don't know if I'm gonna live that long."

她人生的目標就是在速食店工作。

Or to have a young woman say to me

對我來說，這是無法接受的，

that she had a lifelong goal of working in a fast-food restaurant.

這暴露無遺，他們不知道 在社區外有無數的機會，

To me, this was unacceptable.

我們稱呼學生「學者」， 因為他們終生都會在學習。

It was also evident that they had no idea

而且他們今天學習的東西

that there was a landscape of opportunity

會為他們的大學和職業生涯做準備，

that existed beyond their neighborhood.

我選擇了皇家的紫色和黑色，

We call our students "scholars," because they're lifelong learners.

因為我希望提醒他們， 他們是偉人的後代，

And the skills that they learn today

通過教育，

will prepare them for college and career readiness.

他們是未來的工程師、

I chose the royal colors of purple and black,

科學家、

because I want them to be reminded that they are descendants of greatness,

企業家，

and that through education,

甚至能夠掌控且 將會掌控全球的領導者。

they are future engineers,

現在，

scientists,

我們已經有三個畢業班，

entrepreneurs

還有 98% ──

and even leaders who can and will take over this world.

（鼓掌）

To date,

還有 98% 的畢業率。

we have had three graduating classes,

這是將近 200 個孩子，

at a 98 --

他們將要進入紐約一些 競爭最激烈的高中，

(Applause)

（鼓掌）

At a 98-percent graduation rate.

那是一月寒冷的一天，

This is nearly 200 children,

我的「學者」 維多．莎絲坦內特 見到了布蘭登．斯坦登，

who are now going to some of the most competitive high schools

他是紐約流行博客「紐約人」 (Humans of New York) 的創始人，

in New York City.

布蘭登分享了一個故事， 關於一個來自布朗斯維爾德年輕人，

(Applause)

他親眼目睹過暴力事件：

It was a cold day in January

一個人從屋頂上被扔下來。

when my scholar, Vidal Chastanet, met Brandon Stanton,

然而他還是可以被那個創辦了 相信所有學生的校長所影響。

the founder of the popular blog "Humans of New York."

維多代表著諸多貧困學生 掙扎著活下去的故事，

Brandon shared the story of a young man from Brownsville

這就是為什麼我們要以教育為先。

who had witnessed violence firsthand,

布蘭登的報導轟動全球，

by witnessing a man being thrown off of a roof.

感動了百萬人，

Yet he can still be influenced by a principal

籌集了 140 萬美金的募捐，

who had opened up a school that believes in all children.

給我們的學生實地參觀大學和學院，

Vidal embodies the story of so many of our underprivileged children

參與暑期 STEAM 計畫， （科學技術工程藝術數學）

who are struggling to survive,

以及大學的獎學金。

which is why we must make education a priority.

你要明白，

Brandon's post created a global sensation

當 200 個來自布朗斯維爾的 年輕人拜訪哈佛大學，

that touched the lives of millions.

他們才知道，

This resulted in 1.4 million dollars being raised

選擇上大學能給他們無限可能，

for our scholars to attend field trips to colleges and universities,

他們因為生活在弱勢社區 而強加在他們身上的無望感，

Summer STEAM programs,

被希望和目標所替代。

as well as college scholarships.

教育革命正在我們的學校進行，

You need to understand

成年人提供關愛、

that when 200 young people from Brownsville visited Harvard,

指導、

they now understood

支持，

that a college of their choice was a real possibility.

以及知識。

And the impossibilities that had been imposed upon them

這些是能夠啟發孩子的東西。

by a disadvantaged community

這並不簡單，

were replaced by hope and purpose.

而且在這並不完美的教育系統中，

The revolution in education is happening in our schools,

很多人迫切需要。

with adults who provide love,

但我有一個積極的教育工作者團體，

structure,

我們團隊合作， 制定出最適合的課程表。

support

他們在課外抽出時間，

and knowledge.

在週末工作，

These are the things that inspire children.

甚至經常花自己的錢 來提供我們缺少的資源。

But it is not an easy task.

作為校長，

And there are high demands

我需要監督我們的期望。

within an education system that is not perfect.

我會出現在課堂上，

But I have a dynamic group of educators

觀察並寫出反饋，

who collaborate as a team to determine what is the best curriculum.

因為我希望我的老師們 和莫特山學院一樣成功。

They take time beyond their school day,

而且我讓他們每天都能夠聯繫到我，

and come in on weekends

這就是為什麼他們都有 我的私人電話號碼，

and even use their own money to often provide resources

包括那些學生和已經畢業的，

when we do not have it.

這可能也是為什麼我會在早上三點

And as the principal,

收到電話和簡訊。

I have to inspect what I expect.

（笑聲）

So I show up in classes

但是我們一起成功，

and I conduct observations to give feedback,

這是成功的領導者會做的。

because I want my teachers to be just as successful

我們的未來正坐在我們的教室裡，

as the name Mott Hall Bridges Academy.

而且，他們是我們的責任。

And I give them access to me every single day,

這意謂著在場的所有人，

which is why they all have my personal cell number,

和那些正在看這段影片的人，

including my scholars and those who graduated --

我們一定要相信他們的才智，

which is probably why I get phone calls and text messages

通過教育來提醒他們，

at three o'clock in the morning.

教育真的很有力量。

(Laughter)

謝謝。

But we are all connected to succeed,

（鼓掌）

and good leaders do this.

Tomorrow's future is sitting in our classrooms.

And they are our responsibility.

That means everyone in here,

and those who are watching the screen.

We must believe in their brilliance,

and remind them by teaching them

that there indeed is power in education.

Thank you.

(Applause)