The Schools Our World Needs

It is widely accepted in most countries around the world that young human beings, aka children, will spend most of their childhood in schools. Some spend as many as 15 years – from early childhood through high school. From there, they are expected to further pursue higher education at the university.

What is the purpose of those years spend in schools? What are the desired outcomes?

Mr. David Streight, co-founder of the Heart of Character, delivered a parent workshop last night at TKG Academy, discussing these questions.

“What would you like your child to be doing 20 years after they graduate from college?” he opened. Statistics show that most parents and educators wish for children to find true purpose and meaning as well as make an impact on the world. In other words, be driven by a genuine interest from deep within (as opposed to a goal decided upon by a source outside of themselves) and contribute to society at large in a way that improves the quality of life.

Is this what schools actually prepare them for? Are students encouraged to discover their passions and motivations? Is independent thinking facilitated? Do they develop autonomy, competence, and a sense of belonging?

More often than not, obedience seems to be the goal, or demonstrating the ability to memorize facts, which the phones they all carry can do far better. We don’t need humans made into robots. We don’t need an army of factory workers to join the assembly line. We need leaders. We need humans who care, about others and the state of the world. We need humans who were taught that their thoughts matter, their inquires are welcomed. Humans who are ready to challenge the status-quo and reach high; who are ready to innovate, collaborate, empathize, connect, negotiate, support, uplift.

The schools our world needs are the kind which, from a young age, fan the students’ spark of curiosity and love for learning, respect their individual ideas, and cultivate their spirit: Schools like TKG Academy 🙂