Relevant Education Will Bridge the Gap...

Currently:
Fundamentally, every parent wants the same thing for their child; we want them to be happy and successful in life.The challenge facing parents is to have a clear understanding of what it means to be “happy” and “successful.” The standard impression is that “good grades” will result in a successful life. But, this notion is not only totally false, it is totally damaging.

The Solution:
Relevance to… the special, unique spirit within your child.
A few years ago, one of my son’s most special and loving teachers lost her 18-month-old daughter in a tragic accident. While wrestling with my grief, felt on behalf of a woman who had done so much for my own child, I thought about something special my father does to commemorate a person who has passed away.

He asks himself, “What virtues, values, or traits did this person best exhibit in their life that I can use to make me a better person?” It is a very deliberate way to honor the person and keep their memory alive.However, my next thought was, “What do you take away from an 18 month-old who was just getting started in life? Just beginning to explore her world?”

And then, like a bolt of lightning, I got it…It is her spirit! It is her spirit of unconditional love, total honesty of emotions, unbridled curiosity, and sense of exploration. Our spirit is all we have when we come into our life and it is all that is left when we go. Kenley didn’t have time to be anything but a bundle of spirit. This is her legacy.

Kenley personifies the most valuable element any human being has to offer. The experience of humanity is not about how much money we make, how successful we are, or even what we do with our time. It is about respecting and loving our spirit and the spirit within everyone around us.

Our job as parents is to respect the unbridled toddler within each of our children, regardless of their current age. If you were to ask Kenley’s parents for advice, they would tell you to never take your children for granted. They would want their daughter to serve as beacon of perspective and reminder to nurture the special gifts and talents that make your child so unique.

Relevance to… what matters.
Parents play the most critical role in providing praise to their child. But, did you know that the most common forms of praise actually stunt growth?

Relevance to… the real-world.
Now that you’ve preserved (or recovered) motivation by supporting your child’s natural interests and you’re clear on the right forms of praise, it’s time to get tactical.
The Carnegie Mellon Foundation and Stanford Research Institute conducted hundreds of interviews with Fortune 500 CEOs, asking the question, “What determines success in the workplace?”
The conclusion…75% of a person’s long-term success is based on soft-skills. Only 25% of the equation pertains to technical skills.

When education is relevant to the brain biology of the learner, it is effective and empowering.

When education is relevant to the learners’ life experiences, it is motivating and inspiring.

When education is relevant to the real-world needs of the learner, it is valuable and valued.

When education is relevant to the natural talents, interests, and aptitudes of the learner, it is innovative and magical!

When education is relevant, everyone benefits: students, educators, parents, and employers!

The future of our children and our children’s children depends on our ability to humanize The System, to create a space where unique interests and abilities are harmoniously blended with real-world skills. Relevant Education.org was created as the central source for exploring ideas, concepts, and solutions that respect the relevance of individuals and the real-world.  To learn more about us, click here.