← Speeches & Workshops

Iesa New Teachers

Sept 2001 Orientation

Most of today will be spent on how to help you prepare your students. But before we begin, I want to talk about how to prepare you.

Ten Commandments of Coaching Speech:

Thou shalt not griping. It hurts you and it makes you a pain to the rest of us. You are teaching the most important skill in your school’s extra-curricular offerings. Yea, it’s tough, but so what? Nothing your school can offer will match what you can give them in speech. Ease up. Stop your moaning. Good stuff is tough stuff. WHOEVER SAID “GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST…” WHEN YOU’RE AROUND ME, DON’T. IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR SCHOOL, HOLY OF HOLIES…

What you don’t know, won’t hurt your students all that much. The fact that you’re providing this opportunity is what counts.

Thou shalt not fight your way through the speech season. Hardly anyone in your school knows as much about the value of speech as you do. Don’t be disappointed or surprised if the administrators and coaches have little idea how much good you’re doing. YOU HAVE A GOOD SCHOOL BECAUSE OF SOME PEOPLE, AND IN SPITE OF SOME OTHER PEOPLE. DON’T LET ‘EM GET TO YOU. EASE UP. I’LL BET THE RANCH ON WHICH ONE OF YOU GOES TO BED HAPPIER AT NIGHT.

Thou shalt be nice to yourself. For the next two months, you may be the only one who is.

Thou shalt not be too disappointed if not all your students do what they say they will. If you look around, you’ll realize that neither their parents nor all their teachers do either.

If you truly want your students believe that you’re not competing against the other schools, then you must believe it yourself. YOU ARE PRACTICALLY THE ONLY EXTRA-CURRICULAR COACH ON YOUR STAFF WHO DOESN’T HAVE TO BEAT SOMEBODY TO WIN. DON’T BE SUCKED IN BY THEIR ATTITUDE.

BE BLESSED IF YOUR COMMUNITY DOESN’T CARE AS MUCH ABOUT SPEECH AS THEY DO ABOUT SPORTS. DO YOU REALLY WANT PARENTS STOPPING YOU AS YOU LEAVE THE GYM AFTER THE GAME?

Thou shalt realize that every child in contest is your child. You must be an encourager of everyone. AS A TEACHER, EVERY CHILD MUST BE YOUR CHILD. OUR HEAD FOOTBALL COACH IS A FORMER JR HIGH SPEECH STUDENT OF MINE. HE CARES AS MUCH ABOUT THE BOYS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIELD AS HE DOES HIS. AND HE WILL TELL YOU, “IN SPEECH, I LEARNED THAT WE AREN’T REALLY ON SEPARATE TEAMS.”

Thou shalt not peek at the athletic coach’s salaries unless you’re the type who enjoys beating yourself over the head with a hammer. God doesn’t draw big pay, why should you?

Thou shalt realize that when it comes to kids, your toughest challenges will be your greatest victories and the final ranking will never tell a thing about who’s come the furthest.

If you’re waitin’ for thanks, partner, then you’re in the wrong corral. CONWAY TWITTY story.

Welcome to the IESA state speech workshop. One thing I want you to remember, we own this ranch. Speech rules are set by teachers just like you who take a personal or workshop day to drive to Bloomington once or twice a year, have sandwiches catered in, and try out best to do what you want and what’s best for our kids. We own this ranch.. you and I. If you don’t like the way the herd’s goin’, let us know. We’ll change it… or at least try to shoot the herd bull.

Please do more than listen today, talk to people. I hope that all presenters will leave time for sharing. I desperately want to know what you want to know. This is not a football convention where we’re afraid of giving away our plays. It’s more like the AMA. You might have the miracle cure that I need.

It is..the magic of Roy Flucky. Roy had physical and mental hadicaps. Everything came slow for him. Walked funny. Passed few classes. (before the grade requirement) Roy somehow memorized his speech. “Andy Griffeth and the Football Game.” Went to contest. Went 100 mph. Got a third. The happiest moment of Roy’s life to date. He will still tell you that. Performed around school. Kids loved it. He became somebody. Now.. manager of a Wallmart Automotive store in Jacksonville.

It is the magic of Matt Brogdon who also got a third in contest in his seventh-grade year… who had to drop out of school later because he couldn’t cut it. Who joined the army and went to Viet Nam. Who saw an announcement advertising saying that interviews would be held for squad captain. All that was required was giving a speech in front of his squad. He knew that speaking was the one thing he could do. Matt lead his company into battle in Viet Nam and came home a decorated veteran. I have his son in 7th-grade now and he’s just signed up for his first speech contest because, “Dad says it was important.”

Start with this bottom line: Every student of yours will be better off because they’ve met you. You are concerned or you wouldn’t be here. You are going to introduce them to the world of speaking… the single most valuable skill they can learn in public school… Even if they don’t make it to contest, even if they make it to contest and are awful. .. all are better by having known you and worked with you. Start there.

My speech coach retired last year.. Age 77 .. still teaching a full load.. still speech coach in a high school of 47 students.. still directing plays…

The Magic to Change Children forever is Within You. Jeff Westerfield.. Knew how to enjoy life. One of the few free spirits I’ve ever taught. Family: no money… senior pix, senior announcements. Bakery robbery…..full ride at Knox on an acting scholarship. Went to work for UPS. Quit after fifteen years. He said he’d made enough money. Now director of Drama at his church. He sent me an E-mail. “Dear Ken. I was always afraid that I wasn’t as smart as everyone else. It’s taken me 30 years to realize that the simple ability to communicate is the most powerful tool in the world.”

Bob Slavens … you may have heard me tell this. IBM study… Fortune 500… 5,000 top executives… Traits in common: Economic background? Education? (few valedictorians) One thing in common: Extremely active in extra-curricular activities. How you know if you’re a great speech coach?:  If tears come to you eyes when your students succeed.. They should. Today I wish upon you the magic ability to cry more.  If you end up loosing money by coaching speech because of the hours you spend and perhaps even the dollars out of your own pocket.. Great! Today I wish upon you the magic of giving even more of yourself. May you end the speech season even broker. Dr. Albert Swietzer: “The Only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought, and found out, how to serve others.” Tired? Give more!  If you suffer through each child’s struggle to overcome their own fears in performing.. Good for you! I wish upon you the magic of suffering more.  If you find yourself daydreaming while listening to a child rehearse her speech, thinking instead of her future. Fearing for his chances in the world. A mother and dad whom you’ll never see at a conference.. shuttled back and forth from one to the other, no one to even wake her to send her to school in the morning, no one to hug her and tell her I Love You as she leaves. If you are afraid for this little girl or boy, then you are a great speech coach.

I hope you have a great day. Please don’t worry about being new… there’s little difference between a new and old coach except the color or amount of their hair.

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