“We are a curious race,” claims Stargate SG-1’s Colonel O’Neill, leader of planet Earth’s inter-planetary exploratory mission, to a super-intelligent, advanced alien being who underestimates human abilities.
Yes, we are a curious race. We are born with an innate desire to learn. A baby explores its environment, seeking to learn, by sticking everything in its mouth and intense observation of even the most mundane items. The older child asks endless questions such as, “Why is the sky blue?”
Unfortunately, the child’s intense desire to learn is often squashed by other needs, what I think of as the “have tos,” as he matures. You “have to” get an education to get a job. Later, you “have to” work to support your family.
Somehow, in the midst of all the “have tos”, you can lose the desire to make time for learning.
When I was a teenager, I met an elderly man who was taking classes at the local college. Until then, I thought the only reason to go to college was to get an education to prepare you for a career. It hadn’t occurred to me that there is value in learning for its own sake.
Over a lifetime, he had acquired several academic degrees, and he intended to keep on taking classes. Well into his retirement, he continued to learn and share his knowledge and abilities as a volunteer at my high school and church.
That lovely, generous person exemplified the best in humanity. He inspired a life-long passion for learning and my desire to share knowledge.
As a parent, educator, and youth leader, I’m always looking for ways to inspire life-long learners. Over the years, I’ve developed programs, classes, and enrichment activities for my own children, but also for their youth groups and schools.
I’m sharing these ideas On Living By Learning.
Learning is a pleasure for it’s own sake, but it’s a treasure when it’s shared.
Are you a life-long learner? How were you inspired? And, how do you find time for learning? Please comment and share your learning experience.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
AmyL 03.11.08 at 11:48 am
I love to learn! Especially trivia and tying that in to what I already know. I wish I could get my kids beyond the “have to” mentality and into the “want to” with learning. Hopefully maturity will help with that.
Denise 03.11.08 at 1:30 pm
To be completely honest, I did not enjoy learning until I attended college - as a child, school envoked fear and anxiety - you must pass this test!! Selecting my college courses was entirely different - it opened up a whole new world - I was fascinated by all of my choices. Since I get bored easily, I tend to jump from one thing to another, never becoming an expert on a single topic. As I have discovered after having a child who is a non-traditional learner, I too am one. Now we learn as a family and take direction from what our daugther is interested in.
livingbylearning 03.12.08 at 6:43 pm
I’m constantly amazed by how much we learn together as a family, and how the shared enjoyment combats the “have to” mentality. It’s a win-win situation.
otter 03.13.08 at 4:15 pm
Yes, I’m Definitely a life-long learner! I love to read, always have, and I think that inspired me to keep reading and learning. I’m interested in many, many things. Therefore, I got a teaching credential and spent about 7 years in multi-grade classrooms, and am now writing educational curriculum so I can keep on learning! (most recently, learning about blogs)
livingbylearning 03.13.08 at 6:57 pm
Otter,
Isn’t it wonderful how much you can learn in the process of producing a blog? And, the more you learn, the more you want to learn. I’m looking forward to learning from you on your blog!