Geo, you hit upon an important distinction between schooling and 
learning. Passing the test, covering the curriculum, getting the piece 
of paper, those are the things of schooling. Pursuing a hobby, mastering 
a task, studying a chosen phenomenon, coming to an understanding of the 
nature of things, those are the things of learning.

A.S. Neill, the founder of Summerhill School in the UK found it 
necessary to wait out students' apparent disinterest, and allow students 
to do absolutely nothing until they were ready to take initiative for 
themselves. He referred to this as "curing children of the toxic effects 
of school."

The Cherokee have a saying, one learns what one is ready to learn. Maybe 
if your students are not learning the intrinsic value of learning for 
its own sake it is because they are not ready to learn that, and they 
are busy learning something else. Maybe you need to wait them out, like 
Neill.
Tom Woods
Community High School of Vermont

Geo LeGeros wrote:


>Sorry I'm a bit late to get in on the discussion but there was one point 

>that I wanted to respond to that I hope will elicit more discussion. Katrina 

>Hinson stated, "I think [our] students need to not focus so much on passing 

>a "standard" tests but on truly learning the information. The problem often 

>comes from outside though - they're being pushed to "pass the test" by 

>various agencies or life needs." Yes, we would all hope they truly learn the 

>information, because it's the knowledge that provides the foundation for 

>post secondary education. But most of our students don't even have any 

>interest in even reading unless there is some explicit reward - passing the 

>GED test and getting their diploma. Unfortunately, utilizing knowledge in 

>life isn't about passing pencil and paper tests.

>

>I teach in a GED program in a prison for incarcerated adults. Many of the 

>students seem to lack that natural curiosity and love for learning but seem 

>doggedly committed to passing the GED test and getting their diploma. They 

>have so little genuine interest in knowledge and spend no time learning 

>outside of class but prefer spending their time watching drama and 

>action-type serials on television.

>

>Can anyone throw a little wisdom born of experience on this: What innovative 

>instructional approaches might light that fire which will motivate, inspire, 

>and engage our students to invest themselves in learning and encourage them 

>to discover, for instance, the joy of reading.

>

>----- Original Message ----- 

>From: "Julie McKinney" <julie_mcKinney at worlded.org>

>To: <focusonbasics at nifl.gov>

>Sent: Friday, March 02, 2007 10:06 PM

>Subject: [FocusOnBasics 739] Thanks for a lively discussion!

>

>

>  

>

>>Hi Everyone,

>>

>>Thank you all for sharing your information, questions, and insights about 

>>the transition from GED to postsecondary education. It seems like a topic 

>>that we should continue to discuss, and I hope that you all will. Thanks 

>>especially to Barb, Cynthia and Sandy for being our guests this week!

>>

>>Although the discussion formally ends today, I hope we can all continue to 

>>discuss questions and successes in this area and share resources. In the 

>>next 2 weeks I will get the discussion and a list of the resources posted 

>>on the NIFL website and also on the Transitions page of the ALE Wiki.

>>

>>Have a great weekend!

>>

>>All the best,

>>Julie

>>

>>Julie McKinney

>>Discussion List Moderator

>>World Education/NCSALL

>>jmckinney at worlded.org

>>

>>----------------------------------------------------

>>National Institute for Literacy

>>Focus on Basics mailing list

>>FocusOnBasics at nifl.gov

>>To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to 

>>http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/focusonbasics

>>Message sent to glegeros at alltel.net.

>>

>>    

>>

>

>

>----------------------------------------------------

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>Focus on Basics mailing list

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>Message sent to WOODSNH at isp.com.

>

>

>  

>