In summary, Colin Powell's TED Talk "Kids Need Structure" underscores the importance of providing children with a structured and disciplined environment to foster qualities such as self-discipline, resilience, and responsibility. He advocates for parents, teachers, and communities to work together in creating a supportive and structured environment for children, regardless of their socio-economic background, to ensure their success in life.
This TED Talk prompts me to reflect on our policies and structures in Korea. While many politicians and governments in Korea voice concerns about low birth rates and implement policies to address this issue, I'm curious if our country has enough structure in place to properly raise our children, which should be prioritized over the declining birth rate.
In the context of the TED Talk, "structure" encompasses setting clear expectations, establishing routines, creating rules and boundaries, providing guidance and mentorship, and promoting a positive learning environment. One aspect that is particularly relevant for promoting a positive learning environment in Korea is the public education system. Due to the prevalence of private education, public schools sometimes lose their role, with teachers assuming that students are learning the same content in private education. However, teachers should remember that for some students, their time in class is the only opportunity for learning. While being a true life teacher is challenging, having the mindset of striving to be a genuine teacher is crucial.
The structure of creating rules and boundaries, as mentioned in the TED Talk, resonated with me as well. I believe that consistent behavior is crucial in establishing clear rules and boundaries for children. Recently, my friend shared with me about parenting principles which emphasizes the importance of parents having a consistent stance in similar situations. It can be confusing for a child when a mother scolds them while the father tries to pacify them, leading to inconsistency in parenting. In nurturing a child, having discussions and setting a common stance is important to provide a cohesive and structured approach to parenting.