How can schools effectively prepare kids for the world of tomorrow?
Covey: The best way to prepare them is for the very young and teachable to be involved in principles that are universal and timeless. They need to learn and live the win-win principle and the golden rule. They need to learn to see these as the basic principles to govern their whole lives — somewhat like gravity. Whether we are aware of them, they still operate and are still in control. The earlier that kids can get into them they learn to treat people with respect, say “thank you, please, how can I help, I love you” — these types of small expressions can turn their lives around. People will see them as different people and they will become like magnets. People will be drawn to them. It’s a kind of contagion and they can influence their parents. They can become transition figures. If schools focused more on the character side and not so much on doing well on tests, a whole new world would soon open up. Testing supports an artificial educational system. I will often ask audiences, “How m
