It's A Matter of What

I have a seven-month old son.  He is a self-powered engine of learning, displaying new physical and mental feats every day.  Some slight gain in his reading of the environment, or a fresh sound he creates with his throat, or a stronger leg movement in his efforts to crawl.  When I'm really still and observing him closely, I can see these and other subtle and modulated stages of learning. And I am led to the realization that we are enormously patient of infants (maybe slightly less so of toddlers).  We get it!  We marvel at the beauty of this process, and are in awe of their combination of fragileness and fierce determination.  We understand their daily drive for growing and learning.  It is who they are.  In their presence, we strive to speak and act in ways that nurture them.

So doesn't it follow that our students can't help but learn?  It is their natural stance in life.  They watch, and listen, and take so much in, even when we think they aren't.  At home, in their neighborhood, at church, and at school.  

So an interesting question for each of us to consider is, "what will they learn in each of our classrooms?"

• Will they learn that learning is frequent and satisfying, or will they learn that it is random and unnoticed?
• Will they learn to fear mistakes or welcome them?
• Will they learn that learning is a lifestyle choice or a political one?
• Will they learn that school work is a door or a wall?
• Will they learn to joyfully participate in learning, or will they learn to wish each day a quick end?
• Will they learn that only fast, clear and confident is praised, or that slower, experimental and uncertain is of equal value?

Our students are going to learn; they can't help it.  The question is, what will they learn?