“Learning” and “school” aren’t synonyms. Of course, we certainly hope that every child’s schooling – wherever it’s delivered – involves real learning…not merely performance or “coverage” of topics. But there’s actually a big difference in the connotations behind those two words.
“Schooling”
is compulsory – a mandated activity in this country. Each state has a
compulsory school attendance law, requiring that all children of a certain age
(usually beginning at five or six and going through 16, 17, or 18) be schooled
in one way or another (i.e., in a public, private or home school). Thus,
governmental agents can and do insist that children “attend school” – i.e.,
that their bodies are physically present in a legally-defined “school” setting
for a certain amount of time each day and year. And they can and do require
that instruction in particular topics be delivered to those children. They
cannot, however, mandate learning.
This
is because “learning” involves the heart and will of the student. A child or
teen can obediently sit at her desk all day long, not causing a single
disruption, and still not learn a thing. In fact, the same is true of adults.
How many times, for example, have you sat through a sermon at church, yet come
out of it saying, “Well, that was a bust; I didn’t learn a thing,” or blatantly
committing the sin discussed in the sermon not 20 minutes later?
So,
how do we help children to actually value learning?
We
can start by acknowledging to them that learning and schooling aren’t
necessarily the same thing. Be honest. Kids must legally attend school, and we
can hope that some real learning occurs there each day. But – for many reasons
– “school” is truly a drag for many kids, and we need to accept their feelings
instead of belittling them. We can say, “Yes, you must attend school and I’ll
do my best to help you with all that involves. But it’s okay that you don’t
like it.” When we do that, we gain credibility in their eyes and, thus, earn
the right to speak into their lives.
Then
we can show them how real learning is different from schooling – that it
involves exploring ideas and activities of personal relevance and making active
choices to engage with that content. And we can create opportunities for each child
to dig deeply into his or her areas of personal passion outside of and beyond
their “schooling.”
Did
you know that Edison and Einstein – to name but two examples – were abject
failures at “school?” Edison was literally sent home (permanently) for being
“learning disabled.” And, though Einstein earned “good grades,” he chafed at
the constraints of the school environment. Yet both clearly continued to educate
themselves outside of and beyond their schooling and demonstrated in
unmistakable ways that they absolutely valued learning. Why? Each was enabled
to find his niche and run with it. Your kids deserve nothing less.
CK
*****
Photo Credit: Todd
Photo Credit: Todd
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