Dear Friends,
It seems to me, the role of kindergarten and first grade should be to instill curiosity, and a love of learning in the children. If that’s done, the entire rest of their lives will be happier, healthier and more prosperous. Because a child that’s curious will be more intelligent, learn faster, and be able to apply that knowledge. A kid that loves to learn will know more than one who hates learning. More even than lazy geniuses. That additional knowledge gives perspective to opinions, depth to thoughts and nuance to perception. Don’t claim that some are too dumb. Ask an apparent moron what pitcher won the world series in 1978. It’s astonishing how much people know about trivia. While getting right to the ABCs is important, I think giving the students the tools to learn for the rest of their lives, is more important.
Everyone’s curious. Whether or not they’re curious about math, sports, history, war, philosophy, science, religion, etc… is culturally dependent. People from incurious families, tend not to be curious, and then display lower IQ as a result. Because the brain is like a muscle. If it’s never used it becomes weak. Though, thought can be exercised to get a strong mind… or connived to get a big head. Curiosity is the incentive to use the brain. Since curiosity is culturally dependent, a culture of curiosity can be created. The earlier the better. Not only because its easier, but the sooner a kid becomes curious, the sooner that curiosity will of benefit them, and therefore, humanity. Moreover, there may be a Piagetian stage that we’re most open to becoming curious? That would be the time to strike.
A love of learning is a treasure to those who have it. Like a goose that lays golden eggs. It produces treasure daily. Being a want that can be fulfilled at any time in any place. Even the supermarket has opportunities to learn. For those that want to. Moreover, knowledge is a treasure that can’t be taken away. Even at gunpoint. A love of learning isn’t like a dragon’s hoard though. It’s the love of a process. Almost Taoist. Those that love the process of learning then, amass a dragon’s hoard of treasure in the form of knowledge… not for the piles of wealth, but for the love of gaining it. That’s in fact how the richest people become the richest people. They don’t love the money… they love earning it. Like Elon Musk. Children taught to love learning then can only become rich in knowledge.
I believe the brain is like any other muscle, the more its used the stronger it becomes, even as the less it’s used the weaker it becomes. I’ve seen teenagers unable to think their way out of an open door, upon being thrust into life and having to use their brain, becoming quite smart. Because they weren’t taught to be curious or to love learning. So their brains weren’t used for anything but getting laid. Then upon use, those weak minds became strong. Had they been inculcated with a culture of curiosity and a love of learning, and exercised those brains, imagine how much further ahead those kids would be? Setting in a chair half asleep isn’t mental exercise. It’s the opposite. It stultifies the brain. The student must be curious. Because curiosity is motivation to exercise the mind.
I think IQ is a function of nature, nurture… and culture. I’ve heard of studies of identical twins raised in different cultures and their IQs can vary widely because of it. If we can inculcate a culture of curiosity those children exposed to it will be smarter. Smarter kids will have better lives. Their better lives will make the world better. A love of learning dovetails into a culture of curiosity to make strong minds. This is why I say, the first priority of any education should be to instill a culture of curiosity and love of learning, to facilitate strong minds. A nation of strong minded citizens with agency and freedom will create prosperity, peace and eliminate suffering, as a quotidian matter. Such a nation, as the US once was, would be the envy of oligarchies the world over. Curious kids should be everyone’s goal.
Sincerely,
John Pepin
