There Is No Cure for This Infection
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.
Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code
My father was a high school math teacher.
While he taught me a few concepts when I was very young, the real benefit he gave me was a deep curiosity and a love of learning.
He gave me “story problems” to solve for fun.
Unfortunately, much of my formal elementary education was focused on memorizing math facts, which led to plenty of frustration and boredom.
I survived those years mostly unscathed.
(I can’t say the same for my poor teachers.)
As an adult, I’ve had several different opportunities to teach, both formally and informally.
And I have attempted to follow my father’s example.
Students can forget facts.
But once they are infected with curiosity, the condition becomes chronic.
They say curiosity killed the cat, but humans rarely die of curiosity.
They are, however, guaranteed to eventually die with it.
When you find yourself in the role of teacher, concentrate on instilling curiosity in your pupils.
Not all teachers are employed by schools.
Many roles involve teaching: parent, coach, manager, mentor, salesperson, writer, counselor, investment advisor, and any kind of leader.
When you find yourself in the role of student, cultivate curiosity rather than just memorizing a stream of bare facts.
Investigate how they are connected to each other and to your own experiences.
Nowadays, you can even find yourself simultaneously teacher and student.
Once you reach the critical mass of curiosity, you will naturally seek out the information you desire.
Much of that is literally at your fingertips.
The only limit to what you can learn is the extent of your curiosity.
Now available at Amazon: The Courageous Heart: Wisdom for Difficult Times in paperback and eBook, an Eric Hoffer Award Finalist, a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and guidance. Get your copy today.