Can you think of an industry that uses almost the identical methods of production they did 100 years ago? Or one that hasn’t undergone radical industrialization, innovation, or significant transformation? I can only think of one: Our education system.

Although The U.S. spends more money in education than almost every nation on earth, it ranked 26th of 29 OECD countries in problem solving among fifteen-year-old students. 27th of 30 in mathematics, 21st of 30 in science, and 19th of 29 in reading literacy.

It makes me wonder, why is our school system in such a poor shape? And, more importantly, what can we do about it?

Our current school system was set up in the late 1800s to meet the needs of the industrial economy, so it was designed to prepare students to be a full-time employees for someone else their entire life. It’s extremely difficult to self-actualize as a person when you a buried head deep in studying, memorize, tests, repeat.

Our method of teaching hasn’t changed much over the past century. It’s stuck in the past, and doesn’t teach you anything about creating a career for yourself, being self-sustaining, HOW to think, spirituality, developing as a person, raising a family, being happy, or anything that is really important in life.

If you ask students, they will agree that our education system is in need of radical transformation. One student in particular is 13-year-old Logan Laplante. In the TED video below, he discussed how hacking his education is helping him achieve his goal of being happy, healthy, and fulfilled. The result is truly remarkable.

What do you think of this remarkable kid? Please share your thoughts and feelings in the comments section below!

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