“It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot, irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known, but to question it.”
~ J. Bronowski
I stumbled across this quote awhile ago and tucked it away to use when it seemed right. Timing, as they say, is everything. I believe things come to us when we need them, but we are not always ready to learn when they show up. Sometimes, like pressing a flower in a heavy book, we have to tuck things away and pull them out when we are ready to learn or have the capacity to benefit from a particular lesson. Sometimes the universe thinks we are a little bit ahead of our personal curve, and it just needs to be patient as we take a few minutes to catch-up.
Whether you are a parent whose child is about to start school again, an educator preparing for a fresh roster full of young minds, or an individual, who like me, thinks that life is a never-ending journey of learning and opportunities for broadening your horizons — remember that a bit of irreverence is a good thing. That approaching a subject, issue, or an unknown with your sleeves rolled-up and a twinkle in your eye is a far greater pursuit than setting out with a prescriptive method with no room for interpretation or personalization, not to mention failure.
If we’re lucky, the journey of a curious mind never ends. Failures will be many, but so will successes and re-evaluations — times when we redefine what and how we think, and are stronger, happier and wiser for having done so.
I have written so often here about creativity and curiosity — about the quest for education to facilitate critical thinking versus teaching children what to think. As summer’s end draws near, I find myself reminded of this all once again. As I quest to learn new things and to create new opportunities in my life, I can’t help but think that the “ragamuffin, barefoot” approach is serving me well, and be thankful that I never had the love of learning squashed in me.
While I am quite adept at using a No. 2 pencil, I have never lost my desire to use the entire box of 64 crayons either, or for coloring outside the lines. I hope that the taught-to-the-test generation can say the same thing one day.
See ya outside! ~ The Grass Stain Guru
*takes off shoes, rips jeans* that’s me – a ragamuffin, barefoot student of life. All kids, big and small, need to be allowed the time and space to find and express their innate creativity. Without it humankind would find it very difficult to move forward.
Another great post Bethe.
Oh, I like this! I’ve always been someone who loves to learn, and probably my most frequent question is why. My greatest teachers were the people who encouraged me to ask that question and to find my own answers instead of accepting what I was told.
I think you’d enjoy visiting with @campcreek who has many wise words to say on this topic.
http://www.whiteoakschool.com/
http://www.heywoodsmeadow.com/
Bethe, how profound and I am lucky to partake of your wisdom! I like to say, “It’s OK to color outside the lines—as long as you don’t fall off the page!” I speak to thousands of educators around the world and often get frustrated with THEIR lack of creativity! So, it follows that it must impossible to appreciate a child’s “creativity and curiousity”, if you have lost your ability to look at what you do from a whole new perspective. Thank you for this!
Jeff Tobe
Author: Coloring Outside the Lines
http://www.jefftobe.com
I especially like the notion that we must teach kids HOW to think, not WHAT to think. The what will change often, the how endures.
Wonderful quote at the top and what an inspirational post. Thank you so much for the reminder! It’s been a testing day with my daughter today’; questioning *everything* I tell her.
Now I need to remember what a gift her curiosity and creativity is.
You know what? I’m going to go upstairs right now and tell her a story
Yes, Alison — I love Lori’s/ @campcreek ‘s posts!
Thanks for all the kind words, folks! Cheers- Bethe
RT @balmeras: For the night shift: The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
http://bit.ly/KxkVE The Journey of a Curious Mind
RT @balmeras: For the night shift: The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
RT @balmeras The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
http://bit.ly/KxkVE The Journey of a Curious Mind
The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
RT @balmeras The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
Reading The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P from @balmeras – Wonderful!
Wonderful post! What a great reminder that questioning, curiosity and creativity go hand-in-hand and we need to cherish the questions. Thanks Bethe!
Reading The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P from @balmeras – Wonderful!
Cool quote. Don’t you love the word ragamuffin?
enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
RT @toddkashdanen The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY #parenting #kids #teens #school
RT @toddkashdan The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
RT @toddkashdan The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
Perfectly stated! Beautiful and inspiring! I plan to include a link to your post in the homeschool newsletter I publish.
RT @toddkashdan enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
nice blog (post) RT @toddkashdan enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind by @blameras http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
RT @toddkashdanen The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY #parenting #kids #teens #school
RT @toddkashdan The Journey of a Curious Mind | The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/2aLF7P
RT @toddkashdan enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind from The Grass Stain Guru http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
nice blog (post) RT @toddkashdan enjoying this blog post while on vacation- The Journey of a Curious Mind by @blameras http://bit.ly/1c3cvY
Thanks, Ruth! I really appreciate the kind words and you sharing the link.
Cheers! ~ Bethe