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Why do we restrict young people to classrooms?


Why is it that we expect children to perform within the restraints of classrooms?  Is there ever time to reflect? I recently found out that Charles Darwin often wandered along his thinking path whenever he felt the need to ponder and reflect.

If Darwin knew in the 19th Century that getting outside to reflect was important, then why do many educators restrict young people to the insides of buildings, and sat at desks.  This is especially frustrating when reflection is such a central part of recent initiatives such as Personal Learning and Thinking Skills.

Is it really about control?

I know that when I get stuck (which is often) a walk, mountain bike, climb, run, sit can often provide inspiration, and I'm totally unable to talk on the phone sitting still.

How can we ever expect young people to see life from different perspectives if they only ever see learning from one?
How do we build reflection and thinking time in to the school day? Some methods that I have used, to varying degrees of success, include:
  • Insisting on a 60 second moment of silence after asking a question;
  • Setting an outdoor task (for example) that will take half a lesson, then meeting the class outside 5 minutes before the end of the lesson;
  • Building in 'hippy moments' where we close our eyes and relax for a little while, listening to the sounds around us.
What else can we do?


Photo credits, All used under a Creative Commons Licence:
Walking
Thinking Path
Nuisance sign
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Comments

  1. Alan Parkinson10 September 2010 at 11:54

    I used to have that very sign on the wall of my classroom :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. bbarreda10 September 2010 at 14:40

    I like your thinking! Both teachers and students need reflection time and time to learn in different settings.

    "How can we ever expect young people to see life from different perspectives if they only ever see learning from one?"

    I am a big outdoor fan but I also think this a compelling statement for the need for global connectivity also.

    ReplyDelete

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