This teacher thought education was boring, so he did something crazy. He built his own school where all students dance, sing, and go on slides. This may be the least boring school you'll see in America. Who is this teacher, and why did he build this school in America?
So one day, Ron came to class and decided to do something different. He put away the old textbooks and started singing 1914 to 1918, World War II. His class went from boring to a Broadway show. Every day was a different performance, and just like that, his students went from hating school to loving it.
"Teachers have got to be better than video games. Look at these kids, they got their iPhones. They're all playing all kinds of technology. These students are doing so many different things, you got to really be on. You got to bring it to life, and if you don't, the kids aren't going to learn."
He thought if he could change a class, then he could change an entire school. So he built his own. Ron went to Atlanta, found an empty warehouse, and started his school. After four years, the Ron Clark Academy was born.
"Welcome to the academy. Here, they learn by dancing and singing. They have houses like in Harry Potter, and during recess, they can hang out with dragons. Don't get me wrong, students still have books and exams, and the school is actually one of the most challenging schools in the world. But because Ron has made school a place of joy, excitement, and magic, he knows he can expect his students to reach the sky—and they do."
I think as a teacher, it's important to make every child feel like they can conquer the world. I tell my staff, I said, "Look at our school. We got a kid here that's going to be the future president of the United States of America." Now, I don't know which one it is, so we best prepare all of them with the right attitude. Education can be fun and magical.
