Learning To Learn BY KEVIN BECK
ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE BY KEVIN BECK!
Alcott is probably most famous for his career as an educator. In the early 1830s, he opened the Temple School in Boston. He employed innovative educational techniques that many people of his day—and ours—considered to be outlandish. He welcomed African-American students and girls into his classroom. His educational philosophy rejected the use of corporal punishment, shame, and embarrassment. Alcott longed for the creation of books about and addressed to children—children’s books had not yet emerged as a unique genre.
Contrary to prevailing opinion, he believed that children should be honored and respected. Children were, for Alcott, not minds to be molded into the image of the teacher. Instead, they were fellow humans to be listened to and encouraged. Louisa May Alcott remembered her father’s teaching techniques, “My father taught in the wise way which unfolds what lies in the child’s nature, as a flower blooms, rather than crammed it, like a Strasbourg goose, with more than it could digest.”
Bronson Alcott spoke of “the sacred being of childhood” as he believed children had an “uncorrupted” wisdom filled with reverence for the beautiful, true, and holy. “For childhood utters sage things, worthy of all note.”
In children, Alcott recognized a sincere simplicity. They did not flatter, nor were they eager to see their names published. Children possessed a spiritual nature, and adults could benefit from engaging children in dialogue. Rather than inculcating children with doctrine (religious or otherwise), Alcott believed that adults could learn by conversing with young people. Children can “shed some light over the path of Human Culture.”
In his book Conversations with Children on the Gospels, Alcott recorded observations made by some of his “students.” He noted that the children “can apprehend, the Divine Life of Jesus.” Beyond that, “through the mouths of his little ones, considerations and motives, fitted to inspire them with the noble ambition to strive to imitate his Example.”
Actually listening to children in order to learn from them seems counterintuitive. Since the days of John Locke we’ve been told that humans come into the world as a blank slate. Subsequently, the job of adults is to fill that slate with all of the necessary information needed for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
While grown ups have garnered their own wisdom to pass on to succeeding generations, those of us who are a little older could benefit by going back to school and learning from those who are a little (or a lot) younger.
Perhaps the greatest lesson to learn is that we have much to learn—always. The second is like it: learn how to learn. I’ve never met anyone who brashly admitted that they understood the answers to all of life’s mysteries. However, many of us (myself first) often act as if we think we do. Tell the truth; when was the last time your learned anything? To learn honestly requires recognition that you have something to be taught. Without a sincere acknowledgement to yourself that you have knowledge, wisdom, and skills yet to discover, you are likely to live an arrogantly stunted life.
James the brother of Jesus pleaded with people, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters.” He understood that people longing to be “teachers” have much to learn. Identifying yourself as a teacher can deceive you into assuming that you’ve figured it all out—whatever “it” may be. However, you may become a teacher through the process of encountering fellow learners.
Relational education propels us to learn how to learn. Learning to learn involves understanding that everyone can be your teacher if you allow them. Once I heard a rabbi tersely announce, “No one is stupid enough not to have any truth.” Listening to people you consider ignorant, uneducated, or naive—people like children—will allow you to discover fresh insights into Spirit and Self, and Society. Bid the children come unto you.
God’s presence becomes manifest when you attend to the splendor of this present sacred moment. Your heart and mind open as you listen and learn in the Now. Each emerging instant is an instructive experience containing limitless potential for you to encounter the divine. Each person—including you—is inspired with a significant message for life and world. So listen. When you do you will discover the supreme truths of perfection, peace, and presence.
It was only after asking God to show me truth, that I realize how little I know. Quite an admission for someone who taught children and young adults for 34 years. I have learned more in the last 2 1/2 years than I learned in the the previous 40 years. It is a very humbling experience. But, I wouldn’t trade it for anything!!
Great article! I read all the “Little Women” books growing up, but didn’t know anything about Louisa May Alcott’s father. With a father like that, no wonder she expressed herself so well!
I think this is especially important: “Perhaps the greatest lesson to learn is that we have much to learn—always. The second is like it: learn how to learn.” Each child does bring his own unique perspective to the world. We would do well to listen and consider this. I know I learned a lot from my own sons as they were growing up!
Good to hear from you Connie and I couldn’t agree more with the idea that we have much to learn—always.
Is there any parent alive who truly hasn’t learned volumes more from their children than they were able to impart to them?
Our elders also have a great deal to teach us and my grandmother always told me that we can’t know the validity of our ideas until they have been tested against the ideas of another. When we sound like know-it-alls we truly are just older children testing what we have learned so far. It helps me to remember that about myself and others. It removes personal offense—though some will still become personally offended by my thoughts, my so far aquired knowlege, my hope is that God will still use them to teach what He desires the other person to know or grow to be.
Truly good teachers are not sages with all the answers but people who enjoy and embrace the ever-going process of learning.
See comment #4 in the previous post. “Perfect Love”
Your comment on “When I was a child….” was excellent Wes.
Great article. Loved reading it. I also can relate to what you say here Don R. I also have learned more in the past year and a half then in the other 28 years I tried to “figure out” what Christianity was all about. I as well would not trade it for anything. When you begin to see the simplicity that is the Gospel of grace and peace, all other things we thought we knew fade away. And rightly so.
It’s amazing how many people DO have it “figured out”, and are more than ready to pound you over the head with it. They must be really smart! Way smarter than me, anyway!
I enjoyed reading the “Learning to Learn” article. In the past year I have been involved with conversations concerning reformations of the past. When you look back on the great reforms that were brought on by Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others, you can’t deny that those guys had a true thirst for knowing God and his righteousness. Some of the most profound truths and principals concerning grace and salvation were discovered as those bold reformers threw off the bondage of the church and started discovering God for themselves.
But something happened. I personally think they did just what the article spoke of; they thought they had finally figured it out. The sad part is that somehow they came to the threshold of infinite grace and a personal relationship with God and stopped at the point where belief was still mandatory. John Calvin, for instance, being so indoctrinated that belief was the key couldn’t quite shed the doctrine of eternal torment. So when it came to reconciling the atonement and grace with hell he invented a doctrine that in some ways was more ungraceful than many of the doctrines he found his way out of. His was the doctrine that said God created most of his humanity specifically for the purpose of his wrath and sending them to hell. What’s worse is that He attested that hell was somehow the way a perfect and loving God shows his perfection and love!
I think the stumbling blok is pride. I can truly understand how these kinds of doctrines came about, but what we cannot afford to do is become so prideful in our discoveries and knowledge of our Savior that we do not allow our minds to be changed in a way that allows us to grow. The truth is the truth; no matter what is thrown at it truth will always stand.
So how do we apply this? How do we not become like our forerunners in the great reformations of the past? I think its grace through humility, being able to deliver the gospel with meekness and having the ability to let someone be dead set against it. The ultimate “let’s agree to disagree.”
What’s my point in all of this; I feel we are in the midst of a reform. This wonderful gospel of peace and grace is finding its way out of the dark ages and dark minds of the past. It is starting to free people from the bondage that Christ came to free us from; it is setting people free to live and love. But let’s not stop it with the attitude that we have figured it out. Some times I stop and think what would have happened 2 years ago, when I found out that hell was not real, if I had just walked away with the attitude that I had it figured out. I know I would have missed out on the last 2 years of discovery. This last 2 years have been awesome, but I have had to take the attitude that I don’t have it figured out and I have had to be OK with people telling me that I am dead wrong.
It is going to get better! I think the truth is far better than we ever imagined. Who knows what awaits us on the other side, who knows what is possible if we open our minds to every possibility that God is far greater even than what we have already figured out.
In Christ,
PJ
Hi PJ,
We sure can’t figure it out for everybody else either. Everyone has to have their own process. For me, faith IS a process, one that continues for a lifetime and is not made up of set facts that can be taught to another by rhote.
As far as Calvinism goes, I’ve found that many are so superstious about their belief in hell that it is impossible to even get them to examine it. That is sad for Christ died so that we could let go of superstition by having a living relationship with God rather than trying to appease Him with ritual and sacrifice.
So true Pam…
I agree PJ…….Life should be an exhilarating experience of learning and growing every step of the way. I think God is most pleased when we admit our ignorance and be willing to love each other even though we are all at different levels of understanding.
Pam…..I sure love your heart. You and your words of wisdom are always welcome here.