Questions

Anyone who has had their own children or taught young children will know that they go around asking questions.  The one most used of course is "Why?"

With my 3 year old grandchild, questions are a constant, often to the extent that her parents and grandparents get totally frustrated with them all.  BUT we know this is her way of learning and exploring the world she lives in.

Children NEVER lose the need to know why and question, but, often schooling does drum it out of them and the higher the level of education, we often see less chance of a learner asking questions.  

Questions are often replaced by what the Teachers says, or what will be in the exam/test.

If children learn through asking questions, why do we in Formal Education keep trying to prevent them?

Peter Duncan a retired New Zealand Educator wrote the following poem which has been published in a book of Poems (all written by Peter) "From The Space Between"

It really encapsulates the Education Systems and their views of Questions.

Questions

Fresh-faced
Smiling
Eager
Five-year old enters school
with a thousand questions

In year four
the child's questions become 
less valued diversions
from the standard's curriculum

By year nine
no time to ask
no time to answer
or you will never get through
what has to be covered

At university
two questions remain

What do I need to get an A pass?
What's the minimum attendance required in this class?

The nine hundred and ninety eight other questions are
no longer relevant.

(posted with permission)