Film Screening: Two Million Minutes
VIEW EVENT DETAILSAsia Society Washington will hold a special screening of Two Million Minutes, a documentary comparing the educational challenges in the US, China, and India. It will be followed by a discussion with the executive producer, Robert Compton.
"Regardless of nationality, as soon as a student completes the 8th grade, the clock starts ticking. From that very moment the child has approximately ... Two Million Minutes until high school graduation ... Two Million Minutes to build his or her intellectual foundation ... Two Million Minutes to prepare for college and ultimately career ... Two Million Minutes to go from a teenager to an adult.
How students spend their Two Million Minutes—in class, at home studying, playing sports, working, sleeping, socializing, or just goofing off—will affect their economic prospects for the rest of their lives." —www.2mminutes.com
Is there a solution to America's education challenges? According to documentary producer, Robert Compton, the answer may just lie in what he views as the "21st-century solution."
The concept which Compton believes will make a big difference in elevating American students' competitiveness globally is comprised of the right curriculum, the right teachers, and expectation for success.
Public schools in both India and China have done it, producing four times the number of high school graduates than the US while China now produces eight times more scientists and engineers. This film was produced to answer the question: Are we doing enough with the time we have to ensure the best future for all?
Over the past 30 years, Robert Compton held a distinguished business career as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist in industries including software, telecommunications, healthcare, and medical services. While serving as President/COO of Sofamor Danek, he led the largest spinal medical device company in the world. When he took a plunge into the filmmaking business, Compton created, produced, and financed Two Million Minutes, a documentary aimed at finding a solution to America's education woes.
Compton holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He has served on over a dozen non-profit organizations, including as a Trustee of the Kauffman Foundation, a $1.8 billion foundation dedicated to accelerating entrepreneurship.