I recently wrote about the importance of rewarding participation over knowledge within a classroom. I discussed how by doing this it helps everyone in the class learn more.
Today, I was thinking more about why we are so afraid of making mistakes or being seen doing the wrong thing? Society today puts far too much importance on being right, on not making mistakes. A mistake can cost you a job. A mistake can lead to disgrace or humility. A mistake can imply you are stupid!
But in reality how does one be an innovator or learn by ones self without making mistakes? Far too often I have children come up to me in class and ask me to do something for them. Can you draw me a picture of a cat? Can you build me a tower out of blocks? This scares the shit out of me! Why? Because our teaching is killing their creativity! They have already learnt that mistakes are bad and that things that look different are bad within our society. They want their picture of a cat to look like what society tells them it should look like. They’ve already decided what they aren’t. They’ve already decided what they can’t do. Or is it us as teachers and us as a society who has decided that for them?
This is exactly the opposite of what we as teachers should be striving for. I want my kids (the ones in my class) to have the whole world open in front of them. For them to have the confidence to do want ever they want to. To be true to their dreams and believe that they can accomplish anything.
Happily it seems I’m not the only one that believes this. Below is an amazing talk I stumbled across while surfing today that covers exactly how I have been feeling. It’s about 18 minutes long and well worth a watch for all parents, educators and students.
The You Tube ABC’s are a complete list from A to Z of the first two videos that You Tube auto-completes in their search box after entering just a single letter. Basically it’s the most popular searchs on You Tube for each letter of the alphabet. Enjoy…
So there you have it, 26 letters and 52 videos. I’m extremely surprised on how many of the videos are music related; either a song or about an musician… if you can call Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus a musician. Anywho, hope you liked it. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Digg, Delicious, Twitter etc.
Kia ora Ki:
You are sharing some powerful thoughts and insights. Keep them coming.
Love,
Dad
Another great thought provoking post! That kind of behaviour in kids is a pretty scary.