INTRODUCTION to the SOCRATES PRIZES

John Hibbs - Director, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Global Education BSc (History), MBA (Finance) Listen to an audio recording about the Socrates Prizes.

The premise that we can accelerate powerful educational forces already well underway rests on four convictions and the findings from five Global Learn Day events. In brief:

Conviction One: The world of education has failed to merchandiseitself with Madison Avenue branding techniques; and this failure is largely responsible for far too many educators being both undervalued and underpaid.

Conviction Two: It is a tragedy that education does not have a pinnacle award which is as globally recognized as the Nobel or the Pulitzer or an Oscar; and that until we provide such recognition for outstanding achievement we will not correct our chief failure to skillfully promote ourselves and our work.

Conviction Three: We have several models for such prize creation and a realistic opportunity to have an event as big as Hollywood's Motion Picture Academy…one where educators can be applauded by millions with as much vigor as given to those in the movies. And that we deserve nothing less.

Conviction Four: Such efforts will accelerate greater use of technology and significantly improve the outcome of our work; that such activities will be supported by major corporations cultured in the importance of merchandising, promotions and brand identification; that the business world is dependent on us for knowledge workers and knowledge customers; and that they can be excited about the prospects of larger profits as a result of substantially heavier use of new technology.

From the charts of five Global Learn Day round-the-world celebrations, and from close study of leaders in education using affordable new tools in extraordinary ways, we have learned a great deal. It is time the rest of the world knew of these accomplishments; and why very significant recognition for those of high achievement is our best chance for a better and safer world.

In Melbourne I shall flesh out details about how Socrates Prizes can do for education what Hollywood's Oscars do for the movies. We admire the Motion Picture Academy's Oscar show and would like to hold something just as grand

These are important goals and the path ahead is steep. If you would like to help in this journey, please write to John Hibbs. For more information, please write to Xenia Stanford.