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World Insight: Waiting for Superman

Ilchi Lee on Waiting for SupermanMany social interests–politicians, business people, educators, parents–have gathered around the drive to reform the U.S. education system. This reform movement has recently been made more visible by the documentary, Waiting for Superman, about which many people have become riled up. Waiting for Superman portrays 5 students trying to get into charter schools because they and their parents feel it’s their only chance for a decent education. Through their stories, the movie dissects the current public education system in the United States.

Last week, on the The Oprah Winfrey Show, former CEO of Microsoft Bill Gates, chancellor of Washington, DC schools Michelle Rhee, the movie’s director Davis Guggenheim, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and others appeared to shed light on the issues brought out in the movie. They talked about how they are trying to solve the current problems and what the future of education should look like. Even the audience, both on the show and online, weighed in about what they thought. The concensus was, “We are all responsible. Our future depends on how we focus on education now.”

Some are already taking action, most notable in terms of finance are Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, who created a $100 million start-up fund for revamping the education system of the City of Newark. During a TV interview on NBC, President Barack Obama pledged to renovate the public education system while he’s in office. He said, “Why am I sending my two daughters to private school?” Children shouldn’t need to go to a private school to get a good education, the president emphasized.

Plans to change the system include developing high-quality teachers, making a longer school day and school year, and creating a safe educational environment. These factors are so important, but one thing we shouldn’t forget is the true meaning of education. The word education comes from the Latin ‘educatio’, which means to draw out from the core. So the true meaning of education is to help students discover their real core value and help them express it in their lives. That means developing the true creative power and potential of their brain.

While the completion of an education system that can do that depends on good hardware such as educators, buildings, etc., it also depends on software that develops students’ creativity, conscience, and consciousness, which is found in their brain. That software are the ideas and preconceptions through which children view their world. What value and what dream are you planting in your children’s brains? What possibilities and what confidence are our schools and societies giving them?

When our children develop their infinite potential and develop their conscience brightly, then their lives will become light, and each individual’s light will light up our whole society and brighten the future of humanity. That is the true meaning of education.

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6 Comments. Leave new

  • i agree.we need change.

    Reply
  • America’s education system has been spiraling downward for a long time. But now that Brain Education is being taught in schools and communities more recently, the hope and change that was once “wished to be seen” in the world can now actually be taught and easily shared. Thank you Ilchi Lee, for not only supporting American education, but for supporting the world with Brain Education, truly for everyone.

    Reply
  • I agree–and Brain Education can provide the tools to do this. I worked as an educator in Newark for ten years and my experiences there support this. Spending alot of money does not ensure that these children will become people who use their brain creatively and productively.

    Reply
  • I wasn’t aware of this movie. I am looking forward to watching it. It is such a necessary and beautiful message.

    Reply
  • Kathy R. Turner, DVM
    October 8, 2010 10:28 am

    I would completely change my career if someone with the high responsibility in changing the system called me to do so! I would willingly give up my current career to make the change with the proper training and guidance. Barack, Bill, Ilchi, et al. give me a call!

    Reply

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