An Inspirational Message for Parents and Educators
This might be one of the most encouraging things you’ve ever watched, especially if you have a child who struggles with school, doesn’t “fit the mold,” or hates math.
The Flaws of Conventional Education
Understanding that different kids have different bents has escaped mainstream thought.
I think one of the most harmful things the conventional classroom does (by default) is define the “success” of a student by a grossly narrow measure.
That’s the only way to mass produce “education.”
Personal Reflection: Teaching and Regret
I remember when I taught high school, with great shame, giving a tongue-lashing to an 18-year-old student, towering over me with tears in his eyes.
I had been brainwashed too.
Since he wasn’t a proficient reader and hated The Scarlet Letter, I branded him like the other teachers had done, and I let him know that “his lack of interest in school was going to ruin his life.”
I have since recorded and published an open letter of apology.
The Hidden Talents of Students
This young man was, however, already working at night with a relative in a mechanic shop.
He loved it.
He couldn’t remember the answers to a test I gave him, but he knew every name of every part of a motor and could put it back together with his eyes closed.
Among my teaching peers, “Jacob” was considered “dumb, unmotivated, and destined to be a loser.”
This was not verbalized but spoken in many other ways.
Success Without Traditional Metrics
I’ve heard he is now a successful man, without The Scarlet Letter or an impressive ACT score.
He is doing what he is good at, and that is equally brilliant.
Insights from Cameron Herold
Cameron Herold, famous entrepreneur and highest-rated lecturer at MIT’s Master’s Program, understands the woes of my former student.
He laments the neglect of students’ strengths, highlighting a flaw in modern education thinking:
“Kids, when we grow up, we have dreams and passions, and somehow we get those things crushed, and we get told that we need to study harder or be more focused or get a tutor…when I was in grade 2, I won a speaking competition. But nobody had ever said, ‘hey, this kid’s a good speaker, he can’t focus, but he loves walking around and getting people energized’–no one said ‘get him a coach in speaking,’ they said to get me a tutor at what I suck at.”
An Inspirational Video: “Let’s Raise Our Kids to be Entrepreneurs”
You simply must watch this inspirational video:
Final Thoughts
I am not suggesting all kids should become entrepreneurs because someone has to work for them.
But I believe we short-circuit the potential of untold millions of children and damage their self-worth because we measure their potential by a very short and narrowly defined stick… and often drug the creative potential right out of them.
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