Professor Ryszard Szubartowski, a legendary Polish educator, has mentored 126 medalists in international IT Olympiads, including global tech pioneers like Jakub Pachocki (co-creator of ChatGPT and Chief Scientist at OpenAI) and Filip Wolski (world champion programmer). In this insightful discussion, Szubartowski challenges the foundations of traditional, public schooling. He argues that current systems prioritize rigid curricula, grades, and fear over genuine human development, ultimately suffocating the creative and intellectual potential of children.
The Neurobiology of Stress vs. Creative Learning
Szubartowski highlights a critical flaw in traditional education: its reliance on stress as a motivator. Traditional schools frequently use unannounced tests, public questioning, and the threat of poor grades to force compliance. From a neurological standpoint, this forces the brain into a state of constant survival or “fight” (frequencies above 21 Hz). While this may produce short-term memorization, it damages the student’s physical health, immune system, and long-term interest in learning.
In contrast, Szubartowski’s method focuses on maintaining a natural, relaxed, and creative state (frequencies between 9 and 21 Hz). When students learn in a positive, self-paced environment, their brains release endorphins. This not only strengthens their nervous and immune systems but also fosters a deep, intrinsic motivation to explore complex ideas.
The Shift from Subjects to ‘Challenges’
A core pillar of Szubartowski’s philosophy is that traditional school subjects are artificial divisions of knowledge. Teaching isolated concepts—like memorizing the anatomy of a paramecium or historical dates—clutters the mind with information students will never use, leading to cognitive fatigue.
Instead, he proposes organizing education around “challenges.” In this model, students are given complex, real-world problems to solve. They acquire skills in mathematics, physics, or foreign languages organically, purely as tools needed to overcome the challenge. For example, Filip Wolski mastered English not through classroom grammar drills, but because he needed to communicate and solve problems in US-based programming competitions. This “just-in-time” learning ensures that knowledge is deeply integrated and readily accessible.
Fostering Intuition and Youth Tutoring
To prevent mental burnout, Szubartowski structures learning sessions to last no longer than 55 minutes, followed by a deliberate mental shift to allow the subconscious mind to process the information. Over time, this builds deep intuition.
Crucially, his method utilizes “youth tutoring.” Rather than acting as a traditional lecturer, the teacher’s role shifts to that of a mentor and facilitator who curates the environment. Once a student solves a difficult challenge, they present and explain their solution to their peers. This dynamic creates a supportive, non-competitive atmosphere of collective enthusiasm. Students are encouraged to explore different paths to a solution rather than conforming to a single, pre-determined grading key.
The Myth of Grades and Forced Homework
According to Szubartowski, school grades are virtually meaningless; a straight-A average can hold the same real-world value as a failing grade if it only reflects conformity to schemas. He points out that Jakub Pachocki was frequently penalized with failing grades in high school because he refused to do repetitive homework, choosing instead to focus on advanced mathematical concepts.
Szubartowski argues that homework should never be mandatory. It should only be given to students who actively want to pursue a challenge. True assessment should focus on a student’s systematic progress, their curiosity, and their ability to optimize solutions rather than arbitrary test scores.
Mentoring question
As a leader, mentor, or parent, how can you shift your approach from enforcing rigid tasks and metrics (grades/KPIs) to designing engaging ‘challenges’ that inspire intrinsic motivation?
Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=tZYdPc4s9zU&is=HMjdZ2LA72HVejbP