Empowered Classroom....And a Blueprint for the Second Superpower

John Hibbs writes an article in response to "The Second Superpower Rears its Beautiful Head" a paper by Dr. James Moore. (Click here for a summary of the paper by Dr. Moore.) In this paper, Dr. Moore presents the idea of a movement that is inclusive of all countries, watches out for the well-being of all people on Earth, and plays a role as an entity that can keep the United States "in check." In this paper, the author, James Moore evokes a superpower made of millions of individuals who use technology and the internet as the vehicle for the movement.

Hibbs's article opens with these lines: "The devil is always in the details. And the view depends on where you stand. The first explains the problem I have with Dr. James Moore's "The Second Superpower Rears is Beautiful Head." As I have written to Dr. Moore, Beautiful Head is a great theory. In fact, I sense it has the makings of becoming the Common Sense of the 21st Century."

Hibbs starts his article with a quote from James Moore's paper:

A new form of international player, constituted by the will of the people in a global social movement. The beautiful but deeply agitated face of this second superpower is the worldwide peace campaign, but the body of the movement is made up of millions of people concerned with a broad agenda that includes social development, environmentalism, health, and human rights.

Hibbs makes this point: "Dr. Moore talks a lot about technology. But all the technology in the world won't mean squat if we don't have classrooms embedded with the fundamentals of pluralism, rule of law and human rights." Hibb's suggests, "if we don't write into the constitution of the Second Superpower the need to have universal, affordable access to Empowered Classrooms, we might as well not bother at all." Hibb's also states "the path out of poverty, misery and tyranny runs directly through the Empowered classrooms."

One of Hibbs's sections begins with "A Forward Thinking Choir." Here, he states that "learning, not degrees or certificates" must be the key objective. And that learning "should be relevant to job opportunities while accepting and advancing the humanities, that access to learning is made so affordable – and the need for learning so universally compelling – that those who don't have affordable access will take up arms against those standing in the way." Hibbs refers to distance learning with this quote: "The education revolution is already well underway and it's going to get bigger and more powerful. There are millions of courses provided long distance from thousands of accredited universities using affordable technology that's only going to get better, cheaper and more ubiquitous." This points to the need for universal access to Empowered Classrooms.

Below are the main points in Hibbs's Devil in the Details:

1. The Leadership: The Second Superpower, or the drive to convert classrooms from NEC to Empowered Classrooms needs to be backed by someone with stature (like Dr. Moore.) It requires "extraordinary individuals" with many contacts to "help push this boulder up the mountain."
2. Passion and Brand Identity: "There are lots of reasons Nike sells a ton of high priced tennis shoes. But the biggest one of all is the ubiquity of the Nike swish."
3. Learning Orchestra: If there were one membership group that the Second Superpower might have it would be referred to as "The Learning Orchestra" which would include making music and musicians an important element in the branding campaign.
4. Membership Groups: "The synergy of a successful “umbrella offer” to these groups is incalculable. The big question is: How do we get them to put their hands on our umbrella?" Hibbs suggests a universal solution which: "helps to increase groups net receipts; helps to increase the awareness of what they do; helps promote their own agenda; and causes the least disruption to their regular activities. Hibb's suggests "The Power of the Candle" as a way to meet those needs because as he says "there is something about a candle that is just plain wonderful." A candle as a “logo" evokes the internal fires of each individual lighting up and that it is in effect what "glues the Second Superpower and goes to the heart of the Empowered Classroom."
5. Contests and Schools: "The quickest way to find hard working teachers is through contests that draw upon the skills of their students. Web site building is one of the most popular, especially ones that encourage the use “flash”, or other ‘leading edge” technology."
6. ESL & The Education Corps: "Following the model – and the footsteps – of thePeace Corps, we should seek seed money to advance motivated college graduates for a one year stint working abroad. While abroad they can earn their keep helping to teach English; however their real job is to help build E.C. classrooms and the Second Superpower.





The benefits of this programme are three fold:




• Of benefit to the institution where assigned while abroad
• Of benefit to themselves as a “transcendent” experience
• Of benefit to employers who seek employees with such experience

John Hibbs concludes his article with a quote from James Moore and a few final remarks:

And finally, we must work on ourselves and our community. We will dialogue with ourneighbors, knowing that the collective wisdom of the Second Superpower is grounded in the individual wisdom within each of us. We must remind ourselves that daily we make personal choices about the world we create for ourselves and our descendants. We do not have to create a world where differences are resolved by war. It is not our destiny to live in a world of destruction, tedium, and tragedy. We will create a world of peace.”

"Nice words, Jim. Very nice. It's people like Dr. Moore who can make the Second Superpower a reality. They are the same type who can help improve access to learning and increase the number of E.C. classrooms. When all is said and done, they are the only ones that really count."

Click here for the article in PDF format.

Click here for "The Second Superpower Rears its Beautiful Head" by James F. Moore.