Mass. English teacher gives surprising commencement speech - Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

Massachusetts English teacher gives surprising high school commencement speech

Friday's talker is about a high school commencement speech that's way different than any you've probably heard before.

It was given to the graduating seniors of Wellesley High School in Massachusetts.

The speaker was their English teacher. He started out in typical fashion -- "this the first day of the rest of your life" type stuff. From there, he had two main themes.

One: Do things with a passion, do them for others, do them for the sake of learning.

And two: You've been spoiled -- and you need to get over yourself.

The teacher is David McCullough Jr., the son of the well-known historian and author. After the speech, students gave him a polite round of applause -- nothing special.

McCullough said afterwards sending kids out into the world with an inflated sense of themselves would be doing them no favor.