“When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men s [children s] minds take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.”
“Most learning is not the result of instruction. It is rather the result of unhampered participation in a meaningful setting. Most people learn best by being with it, yet school makes them identify their personal, cognitive growth with elaborate planning and manipulation.”
“I m more interested in arousing enthusiasm in kids than in teaching the facts. The facts may change, but that enthusiasm for exploring the world will remain with them the rest of their lives.”
“A teacher who cannot explain any abstract subject to a child does not himself thoroughly understand his subject; if he does not attempt to break down his knowledge to fit the child s mind, he does not understand teaching.”
“That s what education should be, I said, the art of orientation. Educators should devise the simplest and most effective methods of turning minds around. It shouldn t be the art of implanting sight in the organ, but should proceed on the understanding that the organ already has the capacity, but is improperly aligned and isn t facing the right way.”
“Evil prevails when good people do nothing.”
“That s basically the mantra of Herr Silverman s teaching - think for yourself and do what s right for you, but let others do the same.”
“The man who is most aggressive in teaching tolerance is the most intolerant of all: he wants a world full of people too timid and ashamed to really disagree with anything.”
“Formal education teaches how to stand, but to see the rainbow you must come out and walk many steps on your own.”
“So you ll teach me? Val asked. Ravus nodded agin. I will make you as terrible as you desire. I don t want to be - , she started, but he held up his hand. I know you re very brave, he said. Or stupid. And stupid. Brave and Stupid. Ravus smiled, but then his smile sagged. But nothing can stop you from being terrible once you ve learned how.”
“You can t really teach a kid anything: you can only show him the way and motivate him to learn it himself.”
“The word education comes from the root e from ex, out, and duco, I lead. It means a leading out. To me education is a leading out of what is already there in the pupil s soul.”
“Teach them the quiet words of kindness, to live beyond themselves. Urge them toward excellence, drive them toward gentleness, pull them deep into yourself, pull them upward toward manhood, but softly like an angel arranging clouds. Let your spirit move through them softly.”
“The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence.”
“Those who don t know must learn from those who do.”
“In a completely rational society, the best of us would be teachers and the rest of us would have to settle for something else.”
“part of the art of teaching is the ability to rearrange the world for students - to force them to see things in a new way. i ve known too many stupid intellectuals to believe that education and wisdom come as a package deal along with facts, it s your perspective that counts - your ability to see differently, not just to see a lot.”