Some teenagers seem to develop an attitude toward their high school studies. They may even view high school as a trial to test their endurance rather than a pleasurable opportunity for learning.
Is this the way it should be? No – not really.
The youthful joy of learning, so evident in Kindergarten, may have been entirely squelched by high school.
Buckminster Fuller summarized it by saying, “What usually happens in the educational process is that the faculties are dulled, overloaded, stuffed and paralyzed so that by the time most people are mature they have lost their innate capabilities.”
Einstein quipped, “It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.”
The educational philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard addresses this problem at its source. In the Applied Scholastics Educator’s Course, he said, “Now, all subjects educational-wise should start out then with purpose. And this purpose should be very carefully delineated against the real world of the person who is doing the studying.”
As educators, we may firmly believe our students will benefit from what we have to teach them. The problem is do the students believe they will benefit? It comes down to what the student wants to do in life. We’re talking about the student’s purpose here. How do we align his study with his purpose?
Well, we first have to find out what his purpose is. We have to ask questions and take the answers seriously rather than think, “Oh yeah, we have that covered.” It is usually about what the school and his teachers want for him; not what he wants. The student can tell the difference. He knows when we are really listening and he knows if an educational program is delineated against his world and aligns with his purposes.
If he is presented with such a program, he will see for himself that his needs are covered and that the required basics really do align with what he personally wants. listening and he knows if an educational program is delineated against his world and aligns with his purposes.
When the student knows that his personal goals are at the center of his educational program his attitude toward learning changes big time. Now it’s a game he wants to play.
You really can change a student’s attitude toward learning, we see it daily.
Testimonial from one of our students:
Zach on his surf board
An Awesome Program
“My name is Zach and I’m passionate about surfing!
“But high school was a different story – I hated it. All I wanted to do was get it over with.
“But that was before I found APS Online distance learning. I couldn’t believe it – the first assignment my online teacher gave me aligned with my love for surfing.
“Now after only two months on the program, I actually enjoy studying.
“APS Online insists I study those things I have a purpose for and am interested in studying. Of course there are subjects I need in order to graduate but APS Online knows how to incorporate my interests so even the required subjects are fun for me.
“This program is beyond awesome – I recommend it to anyone.”
— Zach
