For a number of years scientific researchers in the U.S. have been studying the effects of high quality preschool (2½ to 5 year old children) education. Some of these results are surprising. They have found that while in kindergarten and first grade, those who have attended preschool may be ahead of others who have not received the benefit of pre-academic studies, by third grade this advantage ‘evens out’ and is not sustainable. So what is the value of quality education for young children?

These research findings indicate that adults who have experienced high quality preschool education are more likely to:

Complete higher levels of education,

Take home a bigger paycheck,

Be in better health,

Have more stable relationships,

And are less likely to commit a crime or be incarcerated.

On only 3.5 hectares (8 acres) of fertile land near San José de Barlovento in the state of Miranda, a two-hour drive from Caracas, this holistic farm integrates fruit trees, vegetables, medicinal plants, bee-keeping, fish ponds, egg-laying chickens, worm production and a commercial guava nursery. For five years Cuban agronomists dedicated numerous hours each week to this flourishing project. The Center gets many visitors each day, including local farmers, university agriculture students and school classes. The Banco de Venezuela acknowledged this progressive project by awarding $23,000 to build a community store that will open next month. Both the national and local governments have recognized Centro Madre as an excellent model for small scale sustainable agriculture and food security.

You heard Dada Shambhushivananda explain how Gurukula was established in Dada's presence by Baba. Baba gave Gurukula for the future of humanity. He also said that he's done most of the work. So what is left for us to do? We have to find and out and realize what work Baba has already done. Gurukula has already been established for the future of humanity.

So we're going to fantacize a little bit and try to imagine what was in Baba's mind when he said that. So fantasy is very important in education. Yesterday we heard about the wonderful fantasy of the kindergarten in Denver, Colorado. So we have to put ourselves in that three-year-old mode so the fantasy is bursting out. One book that I recommend for all the projects that deal with children is "The Grammar of Fantasy" by Gianni Rodari, published first in Italian, then in English and Spanish.

In making a better world, it is easier to build correctly from the outset, rather than tear down and rebuild—hence proper education of our young is the surest path towards realizing a brighter future.

We begin with a cosmic ideal, and then we apply it to the local situation. In the application of Neohumanism there will be some variations. Variety is the law of nature. Variations arise due to changes of time, place and person. If I were to go to Peru for this conference, it would be a different place, with different people, and upon my arrival it would also be a different day. Our Neohumanist schools reflect, and should continue reflecting these natural variations. The variations are good and should be encouraged. For example, if I were to open a school in Caracas, it would not look like my school in New York. It would have a different appearance and a new name. There would be different curriculum elements, revised methods, and a new staff, but the spirit behind it would be the same.