June 2012
44 posts
“Now, there are also people who don’t go along-and they’re called “be-havior problems,” or “unmotivated,” or things like that. Well, you don’t want to be too glib about it-there are children with behavior problems but a lot of them are just independent-minded, or don’t like to conform, or just want to go their own way. And they get into trouble right from the very beginning, and are typically weeded out. I mean, I’ve taught young kids too, and the fact is there are always some who just don’t take your word for it. And the very unfortunate tendency is to try to beat them down, because they’re a pain in the neck. But what they ought to be is encouraged. Yeah: why take my word for it? Who the heck am I? Figure it out for yourself. That’s what real education would be about, in fact.”
—Noam Chomsky - Understanding Power
