I love Ted Lasso, and I love what Ted Lasso stands for. He self proclaims that he was been underestimated for his entire life. He says to, “Be curious, not judgemental.” It is a quote by (not) Walt Whitman.
Take a second and watch this clip. The writing is awesome. The acting is spectacular. The message is beautiful.
If they were curious, they would have asked questions like, “Have you played a lot of darts, Ted?” Mmm-mmmm-mmm -> say that like you are tasting great spaghetti.
How many times have the students in our classrooms been underestimated? How many times have they been over looked? We cannot look at our students through the superficial lenses of test scores, outward appearance, or what neighborhood they came from. We must dig deeper, get to know them, get to know their families, and then we have a chance to do something special with their educational experience.
Be curious, not judgemental. Be ready to discover amazing things about your students. They are God’s creation. It is like looking at a new sunset every day. Education is about people, not numbers. If there is one thing Ted Lasso teaches us, when we are about the business of investing in people, really great things are possible.
For those of you out there who see your students as people, and seek to grow them as human beings, and help them find their God given gifts….the Lord is going to bless you for it. As a community, we are thankful for your work.
Pro Tip: Ted Lasso, during big moments(technically right before big moments) which will achieve something close to perfection, likes to think of something that makes him happy. For Ted (who is coaching in London), it is home – his family. And what reminds him of home? Kansas City BBQ sauce. If you buy into the idea that the story arc of Ted Lasso is really a clever retelling of the Wizard of Oz, Ted is really saying, “There is no place like home.” And thus, when we have achieved near perfection in education, we can say….
Barbecue Sauce.
