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The Leadership of Caine’s Arcade


A few years ago I saw a short film called Caine’s Arcade. It’s possible that some of you may know of Caine’s Arcade as the video has been viewed over 5 million times on Youtube. I encourage you to watch the short film (10 minutes) whether it is your first time or tenth time. I loved this film when I first saw it because of the human story of this little boy that decides to build his own arcade out of cardboard. I loved the idea of one person, a filmmaker named Nirvan Mullick, stumbling onto this cardboard arcade by total coincidence and making a film about it that inspires millions. It spoke to me about the undiscovered genius in all of our kids.

A couple of years later Nirvan came out with another short film called Caine’s Arcade 2. This film was more about the massive impact that the first film had on kids and adults all over the world. The first film has inspired thousands of kids around the world to participate in their own Cardboard Challenge. In fact it spawned the creation of the Imagination Foundation that coordinates an annual global cardboard challenge with participants from 49 countries around the world. The goal of the challenge is to foster the creativeness and ingenuity of children and to give them an opportunity to explore their interests.

As I rewatched Caine’s Arcade 2 the other day I couldn’t help but think of the incredible leadership that this young boy displays. This is the kind of leadership that we want to foster in students at Kipling through The Leader in Me. As John Maxwell says “Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” This is exactly what Cain has done. He has influenced and inspired millions of people not through grand speeches or huge displays of power but instead by just being himself. He is just a little boy that had dream to build a little cardboard arcade. He persevered and stuck with it and made something that inspires us all.

Our goal through The Leader in Me is create a community that realizes the genius in every one of our children. The leadership we want our students to display in school now and as adults in the future, is not about power but about influence. And that influence comes from inspiration. We want our kids to inspire the world – that is leadership.

Our Own Caine’s Arcade
This week our LMC director Kate Schippers and Mrs. Binder-Markey started their own cardboard challenge with her 3rd graders. However, this is only the beginning. Our PTO has generously committed to fully funding a new SmartLab at Kipling School. In addition to that, our school board is currently hearing proposals and plans that we have been working on for a redesigned learning commons to be built at Kipling school that provides kids the tools and materials to explore their creative genius. I am thrilled about seeing what our kids come up with as we continue this journey to foster their creativity, inspiration and leadership.

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8 Comments

  1. Michael Lubelfeld

    Anthony,
    I’m grateful to you, Kate, your PTO, the teachers, the students, and the Board for supporting innovative and meaningful leadership in our schools!
    Lead with passion,
    Mike

    • Anthony McConnell Anthony McConnell

      Thanks Mike. Excited to get started.

  2. Jeanne Sayner

    That you for sharing that incredible story. It was so inspirational and heartwarming.

    • Anthony McConnell Anthony McConnell

      Thank Jeanne. Glad you liked it.

  3. MIchelle

    Hi Anthony,
    Reading your Blog today started as a distraction as I work on progress reports. I had never seen either of the those two short films and found them very inspiring. It is really exciting all that we are beginning to do and just another example of what makes Kipling such a great place to work and learn. Thank you for posting!

    Michelle

    • Anthony McConnell Anthony McConnell

      Thanks Michelle. Glad you enjoyed it.

  4. Janice Barr

    What a special story about a special young man. He’d fit right in at Kipling.
    Thanks for sharing. 😊

  5. Susie Pizzo

    Kudos to Mrs. Binder-Markey for taking on this ambitious project for her kids. My son is in her class & is so excited about their classroom arcade, talk about engaged. Love it.

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