The 4th purpose
Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University, recently said,
“The three purposes of a university are research, education, and public service. But universities should take on an additional role. To try to impact and affect the world in good ways. It’s what I call the fourth purpose of a university. […]
“If one looks around in the world, you see these huge problems, massive inequality, hunger, poverty, climate change, issues of how to set up a global trading system. You have national problems. So, there’s no shortage of major issues.”
The United Nation’s Sustainable Development goals provide an elegant framework for thinking about the most pressing problems facing our world—problems that K12 students can, and should, begin to work on now.
K12 education has had three of its own historical purposes: to prepare students who will act as citizens; who will contribute to the economy; and who will develop a sense of purpose. [1]
In a world of complex problems, K12 schools have an opportunity to declare a 4th purpose: to contribute to the Common Good.
In fact, social impact is probably “emergent.” This “4th Purpose” emerges from the activation of the three original purposes.
Is your school explicit about the purposes that it serves? [2]
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[1] Public schools also provide essential public services (providing meals to students from low SES families).
[2] If social impact matters to your students, and they are in high school, encourage them to consider applying to our next social entrepreneurship Expedition, January 15-18. Details below. Application here.
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