Most people can learn just about anything if they’re serious about learning it.
My job as a teacher wasn’t teaching math. My main job was inspiring kids to care about learning math. If I could do that, no one could stop them from learning.
Most of us don’t think in those terms. We believe the skills we lack are mysterious and special and right next to impossible. Adults say stuff like I just don’t understand computers as though understanding computers requires some rare genetic gift or the speaker isn’t quite as smart as your average five-year-old.
Then that person becomes a grandparent and magically learns to navigate Facebook and Skype.
When an 8th grade kid said I just can’t do math I’d ask if he really wanted to do math. Kids are brutally honest–that question generated some really interesting discussions. Sometimes they said No, I don’t. Hmmm…
Sometimes they said Yes, I really do, and we talked about how learning’s not supposed to be easy, how it requires courage and sacrifice and stepping out of your comfort zone That’s what you do when you’re inspired, when you really want to.
It’s nearly impossible to stop an inspired learner.
- I can’t talk to people about human trafficking.
- I can’t ask people to help me raise funds.
- I can’t ride my bike that far.
Do you really want to?
It’s nearly impossible to stop an inspired learner.
Please leave a comment here.
Good point Rich.