Learning

in the most perverse inversion of philosophy and morality - any person who fails to learn through compulsory schooling is regarded as having a “learning disorder”. And yet it is culture which has a “schooling disorder”.

Let me say right from the outset that there are some, few people who enjoy their time at compulsory school and may even, it must be admitted, benefit enormously from it (although these are benefits that could be had far better without the coercion)

changing one compulsory, coercive system for another - albeit labelled with educational buzz words like “individualized curriculum” or “students centered learning” or even “creativity” - is paddling in shallow waters when there is actually a deep and wonderful ocean waiting.

it is common to think that some children just are not capable of learning subject x or topic y. That it is beyond their capacity. This is false. They can. If they wanted. But they often don’t want to. And why should they?

Most parents send their children to school for one or more combination of these reasons: it is illegal not to, they agree with the idea that school is indispensable to learning and it is, they believe, a most safe and worthwhile form of adult supervision over their children while they both attend work.

What we all really need to know together (aside from the stuff we are really interested in) is the knowledge required that allows us to make a decision.

The whole motivation for compulsory schooling is the idea that students will learn when forced to. When information is presented - in some form - they will gain it. So send students to school to learn.

almost no one takes seriously the idea that one must be interested if one is to learn. To learn you must be able to choose. Genuinely choose. You must be able to choose whether to be there at all in the first place.

But as adults we know full well, from our own experience even if we do not think about it or wish to admit it: one does not need to attend school to learn. I include “home-schools” in this. You do not need to be forced to attend lessons you do not want to attend to learn what you need in order to be successful in the areas you want and contribute t... See more