Raising Our Children as Indispensable 'Linchpins'

In 1999, my wife and I founded a private Christian school in Koreatown of Los Angeles (NCA or New Covenant Academy) whose mission is to "Educate, Enable, and Equip the Christian Leaders of Tomorrow." Nearly 30 years have passed since then. While 30 years may seem like a long time, in the landscape of education, it is relatively brief. However, because the world is changing so rapidly, I have witnessed (and navigated through) numerous paradigm shifts and critical challenges during this period.

For instance, in the early 90s, there was the maddening move to ditch teaching phonics and teach English through what is known as the "whole language" approach. I was 100% against this strategy, citing long-lasting, negative impacts. Sadly, the framework was adopted in public schools, and generations of students paid a heavy price: they couldn't develop skills to decode words. Thus, they had trouble sounding out words, which caused serious issues with reading and understanding sentences and paragraphs. Fortunately, phonics is making a comeback in public school education. Nonetheless, the damage was done. Another monumental challenge was integrating technology into education, and the LAUSD made a gargantuan misjudgment in 2015. The district wasted $1.3 billion (yes, billion!) on a hasty (and shady!) attempt to introduce iPads with Pearson's digital curriculum. Having used Pearson's material for more than 10 years at NCA, I knew that it couldn't be ported to Apple's OS. And I warned others in the field about this through my op-ed columns, podcasts, and radio interviews. Alas, as I predicted, due to the compatibility issue, iPads were handed out to students without the promised digital curriculum. This disaster led to the dismissal of several top officials, but the money was spent and never recovered.

The above two instances point to the fact that people in education (and leaders in different fields too) make poor choices, often causing inestimable damages. In the landscape of public education in Los Angeles, there have been many other debacles—i.e., overemphasizing STEM education, funding bilingual education without hard evidence, attempting to have AI bots on school sites, etc. Most of these problems are still there, but alas, we've got a larger systemic problem on our hands.

How can the next generation survive without being pushed aside by AI? How can we properly prepare our children to use AI effectively in order to succeed and thrive in the future? A solid answer, I contend, is suggested in the book Linchpin, written 15 years ago by marketing expert Seth Godin. He argues that traditional education is a relic of the Industrial Revolution, designed to turn students into "cogs" in a giant machine. Its goal was to produce people who would follow manuals, make decisions as directed, and perform tasks without making errors. That was all fine and dandy for over a century, but humans became easily replaceable. In that framework, the only way to 'get ahead' was to acquire more knowledge, develop more skills, and obtain higher degrees. But look at the world now: we are no longer replacing humans with humans; AI now replaces humans.

Therefore, Godin recommends that people must become indispensable "linchpins." A linchpin is the small pin that keeps a wheel from falling off its axle. In the context of education and people, it refers to an essential individual without whom the whole system would collapse—a key talent who anchors the organization’s network and relations. How then should we teach our children to become such linchpins?

First, we must move away from education focused on memorization and multiple-choice answers. We must teach children to find, develop, and possess their passion through education that fosters creativity and inquiry. Why? Because a linchpin is not just a manager who oversees others or completes assigned tasks. They are "problem solvers" with a "sense of ownership." They identify problems and create solutions even when no manual exists and no supervisor demands that they work. Schools and homes, therefore, must become "safe laboratories" where children can test their unique ideas without the fear of failure or shame.

Second, we must teach them to empathize with others and develop social skills, responsibility, and leadership to serve as the "link" in a community. Knowledge, information, and technical "know-how" have already become the domain of AI. However, the caring leadership required to empathize with co-workers and hold a team together is a uniquely human realm that AI cannot replicate. But it's not easy to acquire this skill today because we live in an age where excessive internet and social media usage can lead to isolation. So, only by exercising restraint and intentionally putting down cellphones and devices can our children meet people, engage in dialogues, and understand others through communication and relations. Likeability, effective interpersonal skills, and genuine concern for others are now more critical than ever.

Third, we must guide them to discover their "calling." A linchpin is not someone who strives merely for personal success. They are individuals who discover and develop their God-given strengths (or talents) and use them to positively impact their community. A true linchpin shines in their position to the extent that the community would struggle to practice love and justice without them. In a Christian worldview, they're the ones who answered "the call" to be the representative of Christ wherever they are. They have a higher calling, and their mission is to impact others as ambassadors of Christ regardless of their position or profession. They take pride in what they do, enjoy the work, and serve others with excellence, all because, ultimately, they're serving God.

The future generation must be prepared to navigate the world without a clear roadmap—via creativity and flexibility. They cannot just follow their supervisor's directions or count on traditionally 'safe' and financially rewarding employment (professionals such as lawyers, doctors, or engineers).

The era in which good grades or degrees from prestigious universities guarantee a high-quality life is fading fast. Instead of focusing on GPAs and awards, we must teach our children how to think and articulate their opinions and positions. Plus, their ability to empathize with others and live as caring and compassionate individuals will safeguard their future. On that point, no matter how much the landscape changes, those who love, seek peace, and foster faith and hope will always be needed. Raising and educating our children to become linchpins as detailed above is the most important mission that educators and parents face today, I'm convinced. I hope you'll agree and, if needed, reconsider your priorities, commitments, and goals.