The concept of Teenspeak seems to better embrace the purpose of education -- "Educare" (the Latin root means "to facilitate"), rather than inculcate (which is being done in most classrooms today). To provide learning experience through challenging and questioning dogmatic norms which society accepts as truth serves to empower and build confidence in your students.

Teenspeak's Washington meeting with one of the FDA's Directors is a good case in point. Your students asked some very specific, straightforward questions regarding the safety issue of genetically modified foods, the lack of independent testing and potentially monstrous consequences regarding our food chain. They came away with realizations and understandings that the answers provided by their government were devoid of content, observing clearly "The emperor was wearing no clothes." The magnitude of this learning experience could not have been fully grasped nor comprehended through the non-participatory approach of sitting in a classroom. If Teenspeak can inspire just one of its students to forever rely upon the unwavering, unencumbered purity of heart in the quest for truth, it will have accomplished much. Bravo!

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