Kevin J. Browne: Philosopher | Educator | Composer
  • home
  • Educator
  • Composer
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • bio

PHILOSOPHICAL INSIGHTS

Are You Thirsty Enough?

2/13/2023

0 Comments

 
In Seth Godin’s book “What to do when it’s your turn (and it’s always your turn)” he has a section titled “The Secret of Teaching (and the secret of learning) where he makes a useful point:

“I’ve taught all my life.  And I’ve discovered that there’s only one thing that separates successful students from unsuccessful ones.

The good ones show up and say, “teach me.”

They look at failure and confusion as temporary conditions and say, “that didn’t work, show me another way.”

They are thirsty.

The other students have their arms crossed.  They want to know if it’s on the test.  They are restless.  They need to be sold before they can be taught.
 
And that’s most of what happens in organized education.  If you can’t sell it, people don’t learn it.  When frustration (the twin sister of learning) shows up, most people stop trying.

Not thirsty enough."

Students need to hear messages like this from time to time.  I know it sounds harsh but the days are long gone when just showing up to school and work led to success.  That's not enough.  Learning is an activity and it needs this thirst to drive it.  I'm often amazed by how my students allow me to confuse them without stopping me.  Of course, I don't mean to confuse them but it's clear they are confused.  And, they aren't thirsty enough to say "that didn't work, show me another way."  

What will happen when they graduate from school and are put in situations where they are confused about what to do?  Will they remain just as silent and passive?

I think that often students look around and don't see any other students thirsty enough to learn and so conclude that they are just fine doing nothing.  But, someone, somewhere is thirsty and acting on that.  Someone somewhere is doing what I call thinking like a philosopher: asking more questions, demanding better answers, learning more than they think they need to know.  

In other words, they are thirsty enough.  Are you?
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    KEVIN J. BROWNE

    Philosopher / Educator

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    These blog posts contain links to products on Amazon.com.  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Categories

    All
    Beliefs
    Book Review
    Connections
    Critical Thinking
    Education
    Ethics
    Homeschooling
    Influence
    Learning
    Lifestyle
    Logic
    Motivation
    Philosophy
    Psychology
    Quora Question
    Quotations
    Reading
    Relevance
    Teaching
    Thinking

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Picture
    Buy my sheet music at MusicaNeo
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Kevin Browne's book recommendations, liked quotes, book clubs, book trivia, book lists (read shelf)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Kevin has read 12 books toward his goal of 63 books.
    hide
    12 of 63 (19%)
    view books
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • home
  • Educator
  • Composer
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • bio