I mean, learning happens in school....or it is supposed to, isn't it? Can school happen without learning? I certainly think so. Can learning happen without school? Again, I certainly think so.
I really like learning. I like to know more about things that interest me, and even some things that don't interest me. For example, I gained an appreciation for astronomy after taking the class. I had no interest in learning about it, but school had me learn, and then I was more interested.
However, I think school may also be one of the primary reasons that people do not do things. I chose not to do band in college because I knew it was such a time consumer. I enjoy playing my trumpet (I found that out last week when I picked it up again) but it is hard for me to find the time to do things I enjoy more than that (like learning about my friends).
Maybe that is why I don't like school much. It tends to take time from me that I could have spent with friends. Above many things (perhaps even all except one) I enjoy learning about my friends. I like to know what they are going through, what they are struggling with, and I like to help them however I can. To be honest, I feel like I am doing something right when I am listening to a friend...when I am doing homework...that is not usually the case.
Homework...what does that involve? Reading textbooks mostly. How much does reading really help? For me, I'm not sure. Sometimes I feel like it helps, but at the same time, I don't think that knowledge, by itself, is of much value. Knowledge, along with (what I like to call) wisdom of how to apply that knowledge, is what is truly valuable.
Typing papers is also common. While typing seems to help me quite a bit, typing papers seems to be significantly less helpful. In fact, my friend and I discussed writing papers. Here are some of her thoughts:
I also dislike writing essays over subjects that really have no relevance to my life. especially with a minimum page length. If I can summarize the point in 3 pages, why does it have to be 10? In the same way, if I have a lot to say about the topic, why must I limit myself to 5 pages? It's annoying. Let me write. I'll give you what I think is appropriate for the topic and how interestingly it has been presented to me.
Now, lets be honest. How many of us can relate to that? Even those of us who are teachers, how many of us have been in that situation? Yet how many of us continue to follow the old
traditions? (for lack of a better word)
So what do you think? Do you enjoy school? Do you enjoy learning? If you enjoy one and not the other, why do you think that is? If we take the time to sort out these things, can we make learning and schooling better for our children?
