The Greatest Gifts We Can Give Our Children Pt 2

     Last week, in part one of this article, we discussed a new goal for our education system, and we envisioned futures if we accomplish it. However, the question remains, “what do we do about it now?” Right now, parents are worried about their kids who are stressing about standardized test starting at age six. And teachers are not even able to do what they got into the profession for in the first place because their hands are tied with standards and regulations. What do we do for the kids who are there now?

---

Changing the Culture of Education

     Academic only education does not prepare kids for life. This is why we need to change the goal of the education system. And education transformation is too important to wait for policy makers to get it right. We can make the changes within the system in order to influence a change of the system. I mention in part one of this article that we need to get everyone moving in the same direction towards the same goal. This is the first step in creating change. It is also a step that will speed up the process. It will change the way we think about, talk about, and understand school all together. In other words, it will be a chance in the culture of education. This means that true education transformation will be a grassroots cultural movement. It will not come from the top down. The culture will have to change which will then force the policy makers to change with it. 

     So, that’s right, it starts with you. It starts with teachers, parents, and even students who want to take their wellbeing into their own hands. Yes, it can seem overwhelming. Many parents just don’t know what they can do about it. Teachers are so bogged down with the work that they are already doing. And students who have reached an age to realize all of this may feel it is too late. It is for all of those reasons that I am doing this work. I want to give resources to everyone, right now, to start the change. 

What Can We Do Right Now? 

     The work I am doing now is leading towards building a non profit, Happy Healthy Academy. HHA has several goals to help teachers, parents, child care programs, and even students begin to incorporate the Five Happy Healthy Elements that will shift the culture of education. Initially, HHA will provide resources that allow educators to easily integrate these elements into their current curriculum or that can be used by parents at home. These resources consist of lessons, materials, programs, websites, books, movies, podcast, documentaries, etc. We will provide lessons we've created or you can use our collection of resources to create your own curricula. Our next goal is to bring services to communities across the country. These services will include field trip options, enrichment classes, summer programs, personalized curriculum development, and community groups. We hope to combine this work with ongoing research to eventually build a brick and mortar school that can serve as a model to influence policy makers.

---

     I have had the fortune to start working with a few educators and experts who are helping me form HHA. I want to facilitate the conversation and give a platform to educators. But I want to do more than talk. With HHA I can also give a platform to educators to take action on this cultural shift. We can put tangible resources into people’s lives that is accessible to everyone. 

     I don't want teachers and parents to feel as though they have no power to make change happen. I want to give them the tools to push through and help create something better. Together we can give kids these greatest gifts and change the world for the better.