Dallas, Texas USA

We must begin to teach children from kindergarten on up to learn the practical habit patterns of living a balanced, powerful lifestyle that leads them to "transcend the self" (become God–conscious, transcend our selfish, self-centeredness.)

This has not been attempted before in an actual K-12 school because it is not common knowledge that there is a specific goal that can be taught, habit patterns that will change the person, and specific modifications of a practical nature that will develop individuals who will be balanced, successful, "good", leaders, spiritual altruistic human beings.

What is lacking in the system that leaves so many young adults looking for that "high"--- that "thing that will obliterate the present?" There are fine institutions for education, but what goal do they teach that all children regardless of race, color or creed, can attain for themselves, by themselves, that will give them the self-value that only they can earn? They do not and cannot because it is not known --- yet! There is no attainable goal other than "maybe" material!

People must have a goal that inspires them and gives them a feeling of "a lightness of being." Something that goes beyond the material everyday living conditions that exist for our families, something that is personal, can be felt, known, accomplished, something that connects them with that which only the individual alone can experience ----- God! And yet, teaches them to be successful, at peace, excited, enthusiastic, positive, and free from fear and insecurities. We are not talking about a religion, we are talking about learning to work "with God" in the practical ways each day that all of us must deal with.

We will teach them how to go about life in a manner that will remove those fears and insecurities that destroy the very value of education, knowledge and family. We are teaching and training adults now (and have been for over sixteen years in preparation) so that the teachers who have these children for five days a week will be qualified to inculcate this knowledge practically.

The Michaels Foundation is a non-profit organization that contains a school that has been in effect for sixteen years focused on training teachers to teach "how to achieve the first of three goals for humanity," Transcendence of the Self." The number one purpose of these teachers is to train grade school teachers and students in the Michaels Academy, how to utilize the methods that will bring the children’s habit patterns into the highest and most effective mode of operation available to humanity.

"Goals rather than creeds will unify religions, races, countries and the world." This must be accomplished in the words of His Excellency, Vaclav Havel, the president of the Czech Republic, "Transcendence is the only alternative to extinction." Please read the attached speech in the appendix.

What is "Transcendence"? The dictionary defines it as follows; "to rise above or go beyond the limits, to possess self-mastery, to extend above or beyond material existence, being beyond comprehension, a person that escapes classification in any accepted category, a predicate that cannot be classed among the Aristotelian predicaments, and something beyond the limits of experience and knowledge --- spirit!"

Practically speaking, you function more intelligently and successfully in all aspects of life, family, personal, business and any other. You are able to perceive deeper insight into all aspects of any situation and begin to have foresight --- not clairvoyance, life works for you, things happen that could not possibly happen, you are joyous and yet you control your emotions, you act --- not react, with tact, you emanate powerful, positive, sincere feelings that uplift others.

One day you realize that you are no longer afraid of anything! It appears slowly and one day you know that you are forever changed ---- it is a feeling so profound that it cannot be put into words! (This we know from thirty years of experience).

It is imperative that the focus of adults and children become modified so that the violence, crime, drugs and all the erratic behavior is removed. The current education system cannot do this permanently nor does it know how to effect these changes.

Until the children are given the only real immediate, attainable inner goal that is dependent upon the individual only, not anyone else --- no permanent, major improvement in education will occur. This will lead to self value, --- not self confidence, not self esteem, but an inner knowing for the children that they are worthwhile and loved and have great value! They must be taught daily how to achieve this and the teachers will integrate it in all subjects required --- and it will change habit patterns thereunto.

Repetition is absolutely necessary for habits are not easily formed or broken. Children are like little sponges, and can be taught the ability to attain the inner spiritual life as easily as only the material values they now absorb ---- along with the material values in their proper perspective. This will include the social graces that are so lacking in today’s’ young adults and children.

These habit patterns can and must be formed early on. Not the "you might know God if you are a good kid" trick --- but "how do I make decisions the way He does and have a working relationship with Him on a daily, hourly basis." Children have learned that family and others cannot be depended upon regardless of how good the home environment --- they have learned from experience. No person or home is perfect — yet!

To teach children how to remove fear, become altruistic, deal with all daily challenges the ‘God way’, instead of being selfish and self-centered, (which all children are in the beginning — we are born subjective, and most adults still are), is the only way to change the future of our world.

It is this very attribute that causes all the evil, crime, and violence in our environment regardless of the long dissertations by many who believe that the problems are more complicated. It is the results that are complicated not the cause.

We will train each child for the real world by teaching them more than one profession, so that in times of lean prosperity, they will always have a second occupation to rely on. This alone will deal with one of the greatest fears that everyone has --- the "security" fear. We will teach them the value of the work "ethic", why this is so important that each one of us earns our own way, and why this helps to establish our "self-value."

We will equip them for life in a way that has never before occurred — mind, body and soul. School will begin at 9:00 and last until 5:00. One hour for lunch and two breaks in the afternoon with physical activities during recess breaks. We will inspire them to learn and enjoy life, function in a balanced manner, and always consistently and wisely.

We will alternate teachers to be there at 8:00 to accept those who need to arrive early and will have activities for these children. We will eventually have on-site day care for the teachers and employee’s children who are very young so that the parent is not distracted from their work and can still have access to their children at any time.

• To expand the horizons of each child to reach into the universe,
• To teach them how to relate to-and with God, family and the importance thereof,
• To teach them self-mastery,
• To teach them patience,
• To teach them courtesy,
• To teach them that life is a challenge not a problem,
• To teach them that taking care of details will create a smoother environment.
• To teach them that every experience whether good or "bad" is a good experience if we learn from it.
• To teach them that you live in your mind—that you have no control over what comes into your mind, but you can control what stays in your mind—and how to do this.
• To teach them that the strong act—but are careful how and why they act.
• To teach them that every action you take that has value, registers in the cosmos.
• To teach them that pretending to be something or someone you are not is sad and shows the world how really empty you are.
• To teach them that fear is the greatest barrier to happiness and peace and how to remove it—Fear stands for "False Expectations Appearing Real!"
• To teach them that tolerance is a necessity,
• To teach them that love is patience, tolerance and compassion.
• To teach them that self-confidence is what you tell yourself you are—or-- can do-- but self-value is what you know you are and have earned!
• To teach them that it is not what you do but what your intent is that determines your growth and your effects in life.
• To teach them that to be good is to be great!
• To teach them that you are a unique individual and greatly loved by God.
• To teach them that ego is an outward manifestation of inner fears and insecurities.
• To teach them that patience ends only where principles and self-value begin—but really does not end --- just causes you to act, not react with tact.
• To teach them that above all you must consider all others------you are taken care of ---or
• Always make your decisions for the greatest good for all concerned.

Our perception of what is real, what is possible, and what is attainable is critical to our comfort, self-value and peace of mind. Our perceptions, not facts, shape our lives, our environment and our future!

We know through experience and time that chain reactions, be they good or bad, happen because something alters perception. This "altered perception" causes slow changes whose consequences go unrecognized because they contradict conventional knowledge, and cannot occur until they pass some unknown or unrecognized threshold.

Small changes feed upon themselves and actually cause people to behave differently, think differently and eventually, groups of people and institutions begin to function differently. Then these perceptions and changes suddenly crystallize and become huge--and a major shift occurs.

This is the way the world works, and this is the way it will always work because of human free will, therefore we must begin slowly, individually to teach children how to "know" God, how to remove fear and in so doing, we will change the world!

History repeats itself because humanity’s goals have never changed. If we are to live in peace, it is our perceptions that must change and then the future for our children and grandchildren will be assured. The Michaels Academy, Inc. is dedicated to teaching humanity how to transcend self so that history will no longer repeat itself!