How Traditional Schooling Is Contrary to Natural Learning

Homeschooling and unschooling are two educational trends that don't conform with traditional education. Each method is back up by its own scholars and supporters, including systematic school education. These are the issues addressed in Paula Lago's article, who explains the differences between learning in the classroom and what she calls natural learning.

For Lago, “school has always taught in a way that's completely contrary to the natural learning processes.” And she adds a practical case to explain it:

La escuela de hoy explica los mecanismos por los cuales una bicicleta puede salir rodando, la manera gráfica y matemática de cómo darle impulso o colocar los pies sobre los pedales, insta a que el niño aprenda de memoria dichos procesos y mecanismos, pero todo esto con un fin inútil, al no permitir montar la bicicleta. Incluso si lo permite, el aprendizaje no puede darse, puesto que dentro del sistema formal se penaliza el error de caerse de la bicicleta.

The school of today explains the mechanisms that make it possible for a bike to roll, the graphic and mathematical way of giving it a push or placing the feet on the pedals, it encourages the child to learn those processes and mechanisms by heart, but all of that becomes useless if they are not allowed to actually ride a bike. Even if it's allowed, learning isn't possible, given that in the formal system there is a penalty for falling off the bike.

In a natural learning environment, children will be allowed to learn from their mistakes without frustration at all. So, we will have a society of independent beings.

If you are interested in homeschooling, you can follow Paula Lago on her Twitter account.

This post was part of the 28th #LunesDeBlogsGV (Monday of blogs on GV) on November 10, 2014.

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