Gloria Ladson-Billings offers 'Capital T Truth,' challenges TU grads
Towson University Commencement Speaker Gloria Ladson-Billings addressed graduates from the College of Education.
By Sean Welsh on May 22, 2019
Educator and theorist Gloria Ladson-Billings laid out the truth about the world that Towson University graduates are entering — speaking specifically about the challenges of educating youth in today's world before those graduates of TU's College of Education (COE) on Wednesday.
In the first of six TU Commencement ceremonies at SECU Arena this week, Ladson-Billings was presented an honorary degree after sharing her thoughts on truth and presenting challenges to the graduates.
“The ‘capital T’ truth is about life before death," Ladson-Billings told those assembled at SECU Arena for the morning ceremony. "It is about the real value of real education which has nothing to do with knowledge and everything to do with simple awareness. Awareness so real that it is hidden in plain sight around us all the time. What is around us all the time is our children and our youth.”
Ladson-Billings spoke about challenges to education, the importance of youth engagement and the value of worship. She then shared a fictional tale, in which two fish swimming in a pond ask one another, “What is water?”
“Well, graduates of 2019: the lack of resources for education, the diminishing social services, failing schools and persistent violence. This is water. And you must learn to swim.”
Ladson-Billings is the Kellner Family Distinguished Professor Emerita in Urban Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction and is Faculty Affiliate in the Departments of Educational Policy Studies, Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis and Afro American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the current president of the National Academy of Education. She was the 2005--2006 president of the American Educational Research Association.
Ladson-Billings’ research examines the pedagogical practices of teachers who are successful with African American students. She also investigates critical race theory applications to education.
Her remarks followed those of Maryland State Teacher of the Year, Dr. Richard Warren Jr., of Crisfield High School in Somerset County, as well as two speakers among the graduates — Ami Fye, who received a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, and Jennifer Mullenax, who received a doctorate degree in instructional technology.
The College of Education Commencement ceremony began the week's events. Over the six ceremonies, Towson University will confer a total of 3,455 degrees, with 2,965 undergraduate degrees, 475 graduate degrees and 15 doctoral degrees.
The COE ceremony was followed Wednesday afternoon by the commencement for graduates of the College of Fine Arts and Communications.
On Thursday, the day begins with the College of Business and Economics ceremony at 10 a.m. This will be followed by the College of Health Professions ceremony at 3 p.m.
On Friday, the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics will celebrate with its graduates at 10 a.m. This will be followed by the week’s final ceremony; the College of Liberal Arts graduates walk the stage at 3 p.m.
Those unable to attend the remaining ceremonies can view the events online, via a live stream at Towson.edu.
Share and view photos on social media this week by using the hashtag #TUproud.