January 31, 2014: Glen Ridge High School

I drove up to Montclair, NJ on Friday, January 31, 2014, to address 150 8th graders at Glen Ridge High School.  My host, social studies teacher Carol Svetik, had attended a talk I gave at the New Jersey Social Studies Conference over two years ago, and invited me to address her world religions students.  It was an honor to address the students and they had some great questions.  Here's a fun one a student asked: If everyone is equal in Sikhism, how do you make decisions? What a great question. I answered this by alluding to the Sarbat Khalsa, and saying that it's not a simple process.

Here are some excerpts from the feedback forms (filled out by three teachers):

• What qualities of the speaker did you like / dislike / did you feel connected?
  

1. "Very Easy Style"
   
2. "Very funny, used current day references, always open to questions"
   
3. "Very friendly, very welcoming smile, very patient."

• Today's presentation could have been improved by:
  

1. "Can't think of anything"
   
2. "It was great as is"
   
3. "No, loved it!"
   

• Please list any remaining questions:
  

1. "Great Presentation"
   
2. "Thank you for your time, it was so interesting and fun!"