The persistent voice of curiosity

“Once recognized, perhaps the quiet yet persistent voice of curiosity doesn’t go away. Ever.

Perhaps such curiosity will hurt until we come to understand the beauty of a journey that will never arrive at an absolute answer.”

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Godin says that for most of their years at school, kids are required to NOT be curious. I know that’s not universally true… I hope it isn’t applicable in the majority of schools today… If you’ve come through the door of this blog to ‘inquire within’, it surely doesn’t apply in your classroom.

These are examples of questions asked by young learners at my school …

• ‘Can ants swim?’ (pre-school)
• ‘Why can’t wealthy governments join together and stop child labour, barely livable conditions and unfair rules?’ (year 5)
• ‘How can religion affect a country’s system of governance ?’ (year 6)
• ‘What makes the wind blow to move things? (prep)
• ‘Why cant people use happiness as a weapon for good?’ (year 1)
• ‘What would happen to the water cycle if the sun went out?’ (year 4)
• ‘What causes Africa to be poor and Australia wealthy?’ (year 5)
• ‘Why can’t you speak under water?’ (prep)
• ‘I wonder if God prays back to us’ (year 2)
• ‘How is it that the brain is so sophisticated, yet it gets tricked so often?’ (year 5)
  
• ‘If school is supposed to prepare you for life, why does school look so different from life? (year 6)

Kids are curious. We need to be listening… As Tyler said in his latest post, ‘Once your inquiry radar becomes sufficiently calibrated, you’ll recognize this moment for what it really is; the possible jumping off point for some serious learning’.