Students at Lagata High School, a secondary schools implementing the Character and Creativity Initiative in Kenya.
While Dr. Moon was attending Harvard Business School, Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, came to speak. Dr. Moon recalled a student asking Mr. Buffett, “What type of person are you looking for to inherit your foundation?” Mr. Buffett responded that he didn’t know what he was looking for, but he knew what he was not looking for. He did not want a very smart, very well-educated person who did not have character.
As Warren Buffett’s reply demonstrates, academic competency is not enough to prepare students for their futures as heads of households, employees, owners, leaders and good patriotic citizens in a rapidly changing world. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 65% of today’s grade school students will end up at a job that hasn’t been invented yet.
When addressing the issue of education, a firm knowledge base is just one facet of the whole issue. Students also need essential character competencies. Skills such as communication, motivation, focus, dependability, and strong principles and values are the foundation for success and happiness.
A study by the Pew Research Foundation found that a majority of Americans say it is necessary to believe in God in order to be moral and have good values. Yet, the spiritual component is rarely brought to the table when dealing with the issues of education.
Recognizing the importance of spirituality, Dr. Moon points out that effective character education has a spiritual core. Because humans are both physical and spiritual, without acknowledging the whole person, character education becomes shallow.
Students cannot grapple with fundamental issues such as human rights, freedoms and character without acknowledging the spiritual dimension of humanity.
Therefore, whether their future careers will be in technology, entrepreneurship, politics, non-profit or education, Global Peace Foundation is working to ensure that students are equipped with the character and moral and innovative leadership competencies that are guided by universal principles and values for the success of their lives, communities, and nations.