LEVELING THE EDUCATIONAL PLAYING FIELD

byMICHAEL CHEUNG

VENICE HIGH SCHOOLLOS ANGELES

SUPERVISING TEACHER: NANCY ZUBIRI

DREAMERS CHALLENGE 2011

Michael Cheung Venice High School 13000 Venice Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90066 Supervising Teacher: Nancy Zubiri

Personal Statement

I'm 17 years old and have lived in California all my life. My high school is

extraordinarily diverse in so many ways—not just racially, but also socially and economically—

and that has really shaped my world view. Every day, I am reminded that not everyone has had

the opportunities that I've had.

I believe education is a human right and my dream is to make education available to

everyone by utilizing the power of the Internet.

I am a writer, a reader, an artist, a dreamer, an optimist, a humanitarian, an

environmentalist, a graphic designer, a teenager trying to make a difference in this world. I may

not know exactly what lies ahead for me, but whatever it is, I look forward to the future.

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Leveling the Educational Playing Field

There is a tendency in this country to believe that the only way to bring about change is

through the political process. We turn on the TV and we see politicians sparring over education

reform, health care reform, stimulus plans. But even the best ideas can be hopelessly ensnared in

political gridlock—overshadowed by partisan politics, slandered by demagogues. It's no wonder

that Americans are so disillusioned with our government's ability to create progress.

But there is a force much more powerful than any political process ever could be, a force

that reaches across social, economic, and racial barriers, a force that can effect change like no

other. That force is education. Education can open doors of opportunity, eradicate poverty,

transform economies, inspire revolutions. As Horace Mann once said, "Education, beyond all

other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men."

When it's accessible, that is.

But that is precisely the problem. Access to education is almost inherently unequal. A

disadvantaged student in a large inner-city school won't get the same quality of education as a

middle-class student attending a suburban school. A student attending a rural school in a

developing nation can't even dream of the resources that American students have.

Politicians talk about standards-based educational reform, about pumping money into

failing schools, about training teachers more. But I think there's a better answer. Standardized

tests and teacher training can only go so far. How about a solution that can directly touch nearly

every single student in this country?

A pipe dream, you say? Not so. The fact is, we already have the infrastructure in place

for this. It's something that students spend hours on every day. It's something that is

increasingly available everywhere.

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It's the Internet.

I can personally attest to the power of connecting to students one-on-one. Through

MESA, a program aimed at disadvantaged students, I've tutored kids in math, science and

English, and I've experienced the joy of seeing my students grasp harder concepts over time. I've

conducted chemistry demonstrations at the local elementary school, hoping to spark a passion for

science in kids at a young age. I've spent countless hours in the library helping freshmen with

their homework, remembering how when I first came to high school the workload seemed so

overwhelming. But no matter how many hours I dedicate to helping other students, I can only

reach so many people. I am only one person.

But through the Internet, one person can become so much more. If a video of a cat

jumping into a box can get 12 million views, why not a video of a fascinating chemical reaction,

or a video about the beauty of cell biology? The Internet has given us a tremendous ability to

share information with others. It can take a one-on-one interaction and make that interaction

available to millions. I would continue to do what I'm currently doing—teaching and tutoring

science, math, and English, conducting science demonstrations—except that through the power

of the Internet, my impact would exponentially increase.

Universities have been using this concept for years, posting lectures and experiments

online through iTunes U. But there is no equivalent program for younger kids, and that's a

shame. We learn most when our brains are still developing, and our best chance of instilling a

passion for learning in kids is when they're still young.

My dream is to make a quality education accessible to anyone in the world, for free. My

plan would be to together a network of K-12 teachers and students across the country, all

contributing videos and lectures to a central knowledge base accessible to anyone with an

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Internet connection. Through the Internet, education could finally become the great equalizer,

breaking down barriers of geography, wealth, and age. Alone, knowledge is just a collection of

facts. But when shared, knowledge becomes a force to be reckoned with.