“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between lightning and  lightning bug.” – Mark Twain

In the spirit of Mark Twain, let’s begin with dictionary definitions –

ed·u·ca·tion – noun

1. the imparting and acquiring of knowledge through teaching and learning, especially at a school or similar institution
2. the knowledge or abilities gained through being educated
3. training and instruction in a particular subject, for example, health matters
4. an informative experience
5. the study of the theories and practices of teaching

learn·ing – noun

1. knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application
2.  the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill

Education sounds like something done to or for you; educators have something that you don’t have, and you need to go through them to get it.

Learning , on the other hand, sounds like an inside job – no one can do it for you and you can’t do it for someone else; it’s up to each individual to learn.

Seems to fit here: “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make her drink.” But if you happen to  find a horse that is thirsty – that is quite a different matter!

What if kids – students – are naturally learning thirsty?

Isn’t that where those clouds of early child questions come from? Why is the sky blue? What is that? Why do I have to do that? How does that work? What happens if I touch my little brother in the back seat of the car? Does touching with my elbow count? Or my toe? Are we there yet? …

Observe your little learning machine in full action!

And there’s yet another saying that applies here: “To appear masterful or powerful, ride the horse in the direction it is going.”

In Jiu-itsu and Tae Kwan Do martial arts, one learns to use the opponent’s momentum to their advantage. Don’t stop or block your opponent’s movements – embrace their momentum and allow them to sweep past you harmlessly, effortlessly in a direction you intend.

So, what’s the point? What is a take-away for kids, parents, teachers?

• “Education” may or may not always promote “learning.”
• “Education” may not always be optimal for, or supportive of “learning.”
• “Learning” occurs in a different domain.
• Recognizing this can have a desirable outcome for the child, the parent, the teacher, the system, business, society at large.
• Shifting the conversation and focus could empower the miracle and gift that each individual is, be she parent, teacher, or child.

Compare this with what we complain about now:

• Missed opportunities for both children and for society
• Increased and increasing costs of incarceration and recidivism
• Family, personal, and institutional heart-burn and head-ache
• Having to pay for the same thing over and over: didn’t get it by 3^rd grade; didn’t get it in high school; still trying to get it via UNM/CNM remedial whatever
• Employers having to “fix” new hires before they can get meaningful work done
• Burnt out superintendents, principles, teachers, kids, parents

Maybe purposeful shifting orientation from “a little more school education”  to  “a little more kid learning” might be worth more than a few little trials. My guess is, the best teachers already know and are doing this. What do you think? How do we support making such a shift happen?