Matt Damon took part in a Save Our Schools march and rally on Washington on Saturday for teachers’ rights. Damon’s mother, a former teacher, was at the event along with his former high school history teacher. The famous actor rallied the crowd with a speech praising teachers for shaping his life and outlook. Save Our Schools is calling for teacher empowerment and grassroots support to help end the practice of tying school funding and teacher salaries to standardized testing. Damon made many thoughtful comments about the cause:

Matt Damon dedicated his Saturday to a cause close to his heart, rallying with teachers on a march to The White House.

The Bourne Identity star, whose mother was a teacher, joined the Save Our Schools March to protest the use of standardized testing throughout the education system.

In a touching speech to the amassed crowd, Damon, 40, discussed how he feels his own public school education impacted his life.

“As I look at my life today, the things that I value about myself, my imagination, my love of acting, my passion for writing, my love of learning, my curiosity, came from the way that I was parented and taught,” Damon told the crowd as the sun beat down on his head, shaved bald for his next role.

“And none of these qualities that I just mentioned, none of these qualities that I prize so deeply, none of these qualities that have brought me so much joy, that have made me so successful professionally, none of these qualities that make me who I am can be tested,” he said.

“Now don’t get me wrong. I did have a brush with standardized tests at one point. I remember because my mom went to the principal’s office and said, ‘My kid ain’t taking that. It’s stupid, it won’t tell you anything and it’ll just make him nervous.’ That was in the ’70s when you could talk like that.”

Damon also voiced support of all the educators throughout the United States.

“We love you, we thank you and we will always have your back,” he said.

[From Radar Online]

Both of my parents are retired teachers, and I admire the work that educators do and know a little about it. It’s a tough job for low pay and there’s a ton of bureaucracy to deal with. I’ve been out of the loop since they retired, but it sounds like it’s even worse now with these new federal policies. It’s heartening to see Damon lend his celebrity to this cause and you can tell that it’s one he cares about deeply.

Damon has been sporting a bald head for a little over a week. He shaved it for a role in a science fiction film called Elysium, which he’s been filming in Vancouver. It also stars Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley. As Lainey points out we’ll be seeing plenty more of Matt this year. He has two films coming out: Contagion in September and We Bought a Zoo in December. I always love to see him on the big screen, with hair or without. (I much prefer with, but I’m not going to be picky.)

I love this picture of him spraying sunscreen on his head.

photo credit: Fame Pictures