Ira Shor

“People are naturally curious. They are born learners. Education can either develop or stifle their inclination to as why and learn”

Curiosity is something that is natural in everyone. Our education system should be set up in a way that allows everyone to embrace that. The curriculums that are common now are those that shut down curiosity. It provides an already written path on how to get an A and perform well on standardized test. It does not prompt the student to think why they are taking a test or why is that A important. Shor presents the reader with a new curriculum one that gives the student a chance to embrace their natural curiosity.

“Children naturally join the world around them. They learn by interacting, by experimenting…”

Shor establishes that participation is natural for students. Once again embracing what is already natural to students creates a more enriching environment. When students are presented with thing that they must obey and have no say in what they are doing, they lose interest. This leads them to act up or become nonparticipants. These students then become part of our democracy as nonparticipants. Change then is much harder. Cultivating individuals to follow rules favors the elite.

“In a participatory class where authority is mutual, some positive effects which support leaning include cooperativeness, curiosity, humor hope, responsibility, respect, attentiveness, openness, and concern about society.”

The positive effects of embracing what is natural is overwhelming. I think our education system goes out of its way to construct beings that are not natural. Following set rules without questioning them is not natural. Curiosity and being an active part of a community that is natural. That is what makes human so unique. Our curriculum should shine a light on this not hide it.