Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the three series?

Each series provides your school with enough messages to broadcast for an entire school year. Series 1 includes 204 messages, providing some options so you can select messages that work best for your unique campus. Series 2 and Series 3 provide you with messages for year two and three of your initiative. Series 2 includes 190 messages, and Series 3 includes 190 messages.

Most schools rotate back to Series 1 after the third year of broadcast. Students have either moved on to another level, or they are hearing messages they heard three years earlier at a different developmental age and with a different understanding.

For which grade levels is Project Wisdom appropriate?

Middle School: Project Wisdom was successfully piloted at the middle-school level. Today, it reaches students in more than 4,000 middle schools across America. For comments from students and educators, click here.

High School: Soon after the pilot began, educators at the high school level began requesting the materials. The program has since been successfully implemented on thousands of high school campuses. For comments from students and educators, click here.

Elementary School: A modified elementary version of our program became available in Spring 2002. Previously, elementary schools had been using the middle school materials with special supplements for the younger students on campus. The program has been successfully implemented in over 1,700 elementary schools. Response to our new modified version for elementary students has been overwhelmingly positive. Click here for comments from students and educators.

Is Project Wisdom a religious program?

Project Wisdom is not a religious program. The program focuses on universally held values that transcend religious, political, and cultural differences. The Project Wisdom organization is not affiliated with any religious or political organization.

For schools that choose to teach about world religions, messages are included that inform students of various religious holidays such as Hanukkah, Easter, Christmas, Ramadan, the birth of Mohammed, and the birth of Buddha. (See Index)

Do you quote religious leaders in your program?

We are committed to a global perspective that includes persons representing all segments of society, including science, business, sports, education, politics, religion, entertainment, and those everyday heroes whose names may not be widely known.

For this reason, we do not exclude religious or spiritual leaders. All quotes and aphorisms present universally held values such as respect, responsibility, caring, integrity, fairness, etc. For a list of values presented in our program, click here: Summary of Values

Why does Project Wisdom focus so much on historical figures rather than contemporary individuals?

The Project Wisdom Library was written so the broadcast messages would be as timeless as possible. There are two reasons for this: 1) so schools can recycle through the library over the course of many years (we have schools that have been broadcasting for as many as 12 years), and 2) as a way to save schools money because the library doesn't have to be continually replaced.

Why doesn't Project Wisdom quote more contemporary individuals?

Our experience tells us that quoting individuals who do not have a long-standing, positive reputation with the public is a challenge. Quoting a pop-culture idol may get students' initial attention, but many of these individuals do not lead exemplary lives. Some have proven quick to fall from grace in the public's eye. Another challenge is finding appropriate words of wisdom from those contemporary individuals who may in fact be good role models. And finally, it is also our belief that it is important to expose students to classic heroes and great thinkers from history, literature, world faiths, and the arts.

Our content team is always open to suggestions for contemporary individuals who have proven themselves as reliable role models. We enthusiastically welcome recommendations.

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