Three nights ago ASB hosted our annual 8th Grade Ceremony. This event symbolizes the “Closing of Middle School,” and the “Beginning of High School,” for our students. The evening showcased two student hosts, and two class speakers. Sitting in the audience, watching and listening to these four fourteen-year-old ‘kids’ (with … Continue reading
Remember when Facebook bought Whatsapp for US$19 billion? One analyst said, “Facebook bought Whatsapp so Zuckerburg’s company could become relevant once again.” His comment implies Facebook is no longer relevant. Facebook has dominated the social media market for a decade (ten years is a really long time in the world … Continue reading
With every year comes the selection process for new hires. Interviewing teachers is a fascinating adventure. Once again, I’m struck by how differently (more powerful and more deeply authentic) the ‘master teachers’ talk to us about education compared to the rest. Truly, I am humbled and inspired by the anecdotes and … Continue reading
Originally published on November 23, 2013. There have been 1.7 billion views of the ‘Gangnam Style’ video. That’s a big number. In fact, the magnitude of it makes the number incomprehensible to me — it fails to connect. However, a number I do understand is 13,000 years. I understand it because I can … Continue reading
A while ago, a reporter from the Times of India called to interview me. She asked: “Is developing an entrepreneurial spirit important for schools to engage in; and if so, why?” Here’s what I said: “Absolutely. An entrepreneurial spirit is a critical objective of a relevant education today.” I then went on to share much of what … Continue reading
A little less than two years ago, I was in Katmandu for a leadership conference along with 400 educators. It was then that I had the pleasure of listening to Dr. Douglas Reeves’ presentation: How to Value, Nurture and Encourage Creativity. Here, without any interpretation, commentary, or contextualization from me, … Continue reading
Originally published on September 22, 2013. After receiving several enticing responses on excellence in education, I thought today I should touch on “school choice.” The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a global leader in research and advocacy for educational excellence, recently published the results of their survey: What Parents Want: Education Preferences … Continue reading
This morning I awoke to the music my wife was listening to whilst running on the treadmill. It was Irene Cara singing her iconic song “Fame.” A song about kids with big dreams; dreams of being famous entertainers. The song goes like this: I’m gonna live forever I’m gonna learn … Continue reading
Today’s thought is about authenticity. While reading Harvard Business Review’s Management Tip of the Day, I am no longer surprised to find myself thinking about ASB’s Early Childhood Curriculum (not to mention the rest of our school’s standards and benchmarks). Today’s tip is a great example. It is adapted from “To Be Authentic,” by … Continue reading
Originally published on May 26, 2013. The American School of Bombay’s High School graduation ended a few hours ago. Today, thirty-seven of our seniors walked across the stage and received their High School diplomas. As you can imagine, there was plenty of joy and cheer, rivers of tears, and hundreds … Continue reading
