What we learn, and what information is present changes, and then we also change as well.

But when we are dealing with the change of our own identity and expansion of our knowledge, we don't want to be told exactly how to change, we want to be able to conclude ourselves.

Therefore, our education should be a guide in the right direction, not a hard and fast law, and the greatest motivation is not the push of the teachers, but the unrelenting drive to learn inside students.

Allow Students To Save Face

Anyone, especially students have to be allowed the courtesy of saving face. The problem I think many students encounter is when teachers of any sort speak down to students as intellectually inferior whether intentionally or not.

Students want to learn, but they don't want to be pushed into learning. In fact, I would argue it's the opposite, I think a true student at heart will be running towards new knowledge.

Students, however, have to come to this conclusion on their own in some regard, teachers can only help them along.

As Morpheus put it,

"I Can Only Show You The Door. You're The One That Has To Walk Through It."

A simple cliché, but one that fits perfectly nonetheless.

As a student, it feels good to be good at the schoolwork I do, and that competence breeds confidence in my own abilities. However, this is something I have to get into doing, this sense of confidence is not something that can be bestowed upon someone else, no matter how benevolent the intention is.

I think teachers can assist, provide materials, encourage, and support emotionally, but they can not replace the internal motivation to learn inside a student.

“Actually, all education is self-education. A teacher is only a guide, to point out the way, and no school, no matter how excellent, can give you an education. What you receive is like the outlines in a child’s coloring book. You must fill in the colors yourself.” ― Louis L'Amour

As many parents discover, teachers at some point have to let go and understand that there has to be some level of independence.

The student needs to be able to stand on their own two feet to make the best of the knowledge they learn.

Personal Investment

Now here comes the more personally directed approach. For you to learn you have to take an active interest in your learning. Not a so-so approach, but a hands-on fully attentive approach. That's not to say you can't do other things, but rather that you have to be fully engaged in the work you are doing, no matter what work that is.

“Self-education is, I firmly believe, the only kind of education there is.” ― Isaac Asimov

I found this also reflects well on how good our grades are. The more invested I was in a class, the better I did. Now the distinction I want to make here when I refer to investing I am referring to the drive to learn, rather than simply the energy I put into the class.

I had many classes I put much energy into but only did semi-decent. The best classes I did were the ones where my goal was to learn and a good grade was the outcome.

Frameworks Change

Education is like science, it's never fully complete, therefore the frameworks and principles that guide us also change. This is why I refer to education as a guide, rather than law.

Now just because some construct changes that don't mean that the construct doesn't have weight or validity, but rather that the construct is evolving hopefully into something better.

The legislation system works this way, as we can add or take parts of the constitution that help shape the best society we can make. Is it perfect, definitely not, but it is always changing.

Education works in a similar fashion consistently changing into something new. New however does not mean better. While striving towards building a better education we need to remember the guiding moral principles as these fundamental concepts must remain as pillars otherwise the educational building we have created will collapse.

We have to use and improve upon education like a tool in a sculptor's shed. And like any change, it can be painful, but necessary.

[As] “Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.” ― Alexis Carrel