When Did Learning Become a Threat?

Have you ever watched the face of a young child who is deeply engrossed in learning something new? Their eyes filled with wonder, intently focused, determined furrow in the brow, and oblivious to the distractions around them.  The intensity of their focus shows their enthusiastic anticipation to try and their chatter speaks to their sense of excitement at uncovering a new way of being and seeing the world.  Learning and discovering at a young age starts as THE way of life, THE only way of living- trying something new, uncovering new possibilities that will present opportunities for freedom, invention, and independence.  

When does learning and discovering move from a privilege and one of the great beauties of life to a threat?  The threat of change… The threat of seeing things in a new way… The threat of being perceived as wrong… The threat of who we will have to become if we allow ourselves to see, grow, and evolve.  

On this mission to reimagining school to serve the students of the Information Age, I have been reflecting on that very question- When does learning and discovery move from a privilege to a threat, as well as the question of what do we, as leaders, do about it?  

I've landed on the idea that we need cultures and conditions of responsibility.  Cultures of responsibility are established by clear expectations from brave and loving leaders.  As educators, we have a moral responsibility to prepare students for THEIR future, not the one we are comfortable with.  To accomplish this, we must lay down our swords, open our eyes and hearts and accept responsibility for shaping an unknown future.  

 We need leaders in our path who set ambitious expectations to inspire us to continue on in the face of new, hard, and difficult challenges.  Leaders who remind us that learning is a privilege, a beautiful thing, and an expectation for all who serve students today.  When introducing expectations into a culture absent of them, we will see fear.  Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of follow through. 

Loving and brave leaders keep showing up with hugs and high expectations.  Eventually for most, the swords come down, the wonder returns, and growth can begin. Learning becomes the gift for the adult AND the child.  Some will leave our organizations still in full armor threatened by new learning, missing the most beautiful parts of life. But in our organization, we stand by the motto- “We grow here!”