At Bett Educar 2020, we will share reflections and inspiration, as well as practical approaches to help families in the delicate mission of educating children and adolescents for a new era, overcoming the “emperor syndrome,” low self-esteem, and so many sensitive challenges—such as depression, anxiety, suicide, self-harm, and many other issues that affect and afflict not only children but also adolescents, sometimes taking a toll on the school environment and, often, the family itself.

Our society has been increasingly embracing a culture of violence. Just take a closer look, and we’ll see that stadiums have turned into arenas, that the most-watched movies depict violence, and, if we let our guard down, we find ourselves rooting for the criminal, immersed in shootings, murders, blackmail, and so many other shows—with our guard down—leaving us with the feeling that we’re all living in a police station.

Does that sound like an exaggeration? Perhaps not as much as you might think. Take a look at the most popular video games and movie lineups, and it becomes easy to see how violence—and even drugs, in all their various forms—are so prevalent in our daily lives. Given this, it’s not uncommon to see parents who, with the best of intentions, end up confusing pleasure with happiness within their own homes.

After all, what is the difference between pleasure and happiness? We need to make parents aware that pleasure, despite being physiologically enjoyable, ultimately leads to dependence, since it is fleeting and creates a need for something external to us, whereas happiness is something the individual constructs for themselves, to a certain extent independent of social or even historical context, given that research indicates that what defines a person’s happiness is precisely their attitude toward themselves, life, the future, and others.

While it is true that we face many uncertainties today—a complex, competitive, and often frustrating world amid so much connectivity and speed—we need to remember—as parents and as educators ourselves—that there is also a lot of good news on the horizon. People have never lived so long, infant mortality has never been so low, there has never been such widespread access to food and knowledge, the incidence of war is low, and we have never enjoyed so many freedoms, so much information, and so many opportunities.

So, we need to take a broader view to move beyond our anguish and turn toward what truly helps us overcome this very delicate state of the soul. We overcome anguish through action and words—that is, by talking to ourselves, exchanging ideas among adults, and inspiring practical paths so that this great anguish—which life has become in large cities and in many places around the world—can be overcome through noble life projects that result in wise citizens.

With the advent of artificial intelligence and the rapid changes in the job market, it is now clear that—whether in the classroom or at home—we need experiences that foster the development of new skills.

We are talking here about interpersonal skills, the ability to interpret complex situations, emotional balance, willpower, and the ability to make decisions. It is becoming increasingly clear that we need to learn to deal with and live alongside diversity, embrace global responsibility and share solutions, practice teamwork, take care of our health and reputation, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and, above all, cultivate wisdom.

What, then, is a wise life? How can we help a child become wise? Let’s define intelligence as the ability to solve problems. It’s a simple definition; however, in a world that demands so many skills—such as those already mentioned—we must balance intelligence with civility and ethics. This means making a major decision to prioritize our humanity above all else. A human is one who makes choices; a human is one who chooses what is good; a human is one who chooses the common good. A wise person is one who decides what is good for themselves and also for others and for the environment—one who makes decisions in the present without disregarding the future. Wisdom is the first cousin of sustainability, the ideal partner of humanism—a choice that must be cultivated both at home and at school.

One approach is to help parents realize that parenting does not mean fostering feelings of guilt, always trying to please at any cost or all the time, or doing things for their children. It is not uncommon today for family members to confuse a hands-on approach with doing things for their children. As overprotection and pampering take hold, the “emperor syndrome” develops—a dysfunctional mindset in both children and parents—that culminates in immaturity, intolerance, irritability, insecurity, instability, dissatisfaction, ingratitude, inadequacy, incompetence, and instability, in addition, of course, to the belief that one’s desires and needs must be met at all costs. The danger of this is becoming an expendable person. After all, who would want to spend time with or work alongside someone who has this attitude toward life?

We can see that happiness is, in fact, the opposite of pleasure. It has to do with a set of values and virtues, with the contribution we make to the world, and, in particular, with the quality of the bonds we form. Teachers of a wide variety of subjects can contribute by creating a space for discussion about gratitude; by facilitating a group activity on social harmony; by organizing an essay contest that explores team spirit; by showing a film followed by a discussion; or even by creating an art installation that highlights the value of equity and respect; by inviting parents to share their professional experiences and demonstrate creative strategies for overcoming challenges; by discussing or asking students to research companies that have embraced causes and made a difference in their communities.

There are many ways to inspire the school community. Today, school subjects and educational pathways must go beyond intelligence and seek wisdom. And at Bett Educar 2020, practical approaches will be presented to help schools become not just a place or a final destination, but rather a bridge toward building a better world for everyone.