The Energy Theory

A thick book about the Eastern Medicine written by a Western Medical Schooled American doctor fascinated me a couple of decades ago.  (I wish I could remember the title and author...) I wondered why in the world this successful American doctor wanted to go to China to learn "real" Eastern medicine.  The science starts from curiosity.  That was the answer.  Although we are the proud Americans who appreciate such advanced medical technology at the highest level of the world, several articles show some miserable reality of our own  health on the research with the specific comparison with other countries, such as the higher rate of children's obesity, diabetic, and alcoholism, which we could prevent. 

Western and Eastern medicine are significantly different according to the site, Stress Solutions.  The point the doctor mentioned in the book that are still brightly highlighted in my brain is this.  Western medicine tries to cure the surface.  For example, if you experience your headache, your doctor prescribe the pain pill, or you go to the drug store to remedy it by yourself.  Boom!  You are pain free.  Conversely, Eastern medicine look for the source of pain by observing the tongue color, energy level, and acupuncture points, etc.  The doctor's prescription might be herbal medicine which has been used in China over 2,000 years and would not stop your headache today.  However, they try to treat your causal part of your body.  It takes time, but once the pain is gone, it is permanent because the source of pain is gone.  You don't have to pop your pills so often.  Learning the human body in the different way was the significant discovery for this American MD.

It reminded me of the American fast food life.  A sense of rush. " You have do it now."  "We have to change now."  "Give me now or nothing!"  In education as well, I feel.
"We have terrible scores in our school.  We have to do something."
"Yeah, let's do such and such of this company."
A couple of years later, the score is still Plato.
"Well, score is same because of the students' families don't do anything."
"Hey, but we cannot do anything about families.  People just blame on teachers."
"Well then, hire more people to control misbehaved kids."

Wait a minute!  What are we missing?  In next few years, people would be still grumbling about the dilemma among test scores, lack of family support, and students' terrible behaviors even with numeral new staff.  If you hypothesize student's behavior would be the cause of low test score, you have to improve it.  It takes time, but it worth it.  As a whole team.  Adopt a school wide social skills model, systematic guidance, school wide recognition assembly, lunch with principal, issue award certificate, there are so many ideas to connect students as a team.  Unfortunately, collaboration is a very difficult task to do for several people in our country.  Collaboration sometimes requires compromise. 

That is, perhaps in our blood, independence.  "We need no tax on tea!  No control from England!  We will never compromise!"  Sadly true, that is how we built our nation.  Like types of plants and fruits grow in the certain region based on their geographical feature, human perspective is affected by the historical background.  I see it intriguing. 

But think about the "energy"which Chinese often use in their life.  According to the author of Energy Bus , Jon Gordon mentioned in his book, our planet Earth began its life with enormous energy in the universe.  Thus, all living creatures are controlled by some sort of energy.  I nod.  When you are full of positive energy, you are productive and kind.  With negative energy, you would be sick inside and grumpy.  Maybe mean, too.  In stead of just peeling layer after layer, like picking on school improvement based on test scores and teacher's accountability, we should breathe deeply.  What we need is positive energy that makes us smile every day.  Teach our children how to create and use positive energy for their lives.  If we have a problem, it is not on surface.  It's in deep inside of our being.  Relax.  And slow down.  Listen to your ancient wisdom living within you.