I know how to solve the world's problems!
Does it amaze anyone else that governments can't seem to get it together when they are composed of mature adults with advanced college degrees and real world experience? One might think that those charged with running the world should be able to agree on a plan of action that will fix what is broken. But that doesn't seem to be so.
Now, when I was in the 4th grade, I was asked to join the PAT. That stands for Program for the Academically Talented. Once a week we were let out of regular classes and we did mindbenders and minute-mysteries.
In the 5th grade, PAT introduced Future Problem Solving, or FPS. The purpose of FPS was to teach us to think in the abstract, to think in broader terms and to solve the problems of the future. We would be put in groups of 5 or 6 and would begin by reading the problem aloud. Next, we were given a half an hour to brainstorm. After our papers were filled with ideas, we would share them and pick the best. Finally, we were to go into detail about how to implement our plans.
I think FPS allowed me to learn how to see the bigger picture and I am able to imagine several outcomes instantly. FPS was fun and educational and I never knew anyone who didn't feel the experience enriched them in some way.
It doesn't take a genius to see that if 5th graders can work together for a mere 5 hours and solve the problem of starving children in Ethiopia that our government officials could use the same techniques successfully. Since no one will suggest that they are only given 5 hours, they will have the advantage of time. With their greater education they will know facts off hand that we could only suppose. And they will have far more resources than than we ever did.
Of course, it would probably be more successful if we let the 10 year olds do it themselves!