[...] All humans, short of being afflicted with certain types of organic damage, are born with an astounding capacity to learn, both in the amount that can be learned in one domain and in the variety and range of what can be learned. Children, unless stifled in some way, are usually virtuosos as learners.
Pashler, H., McDaniel, M., Rohrer, D., & Bjork, R. (2008). Learning styles concepts and evidence. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 9(3), 105–119.
Seems to me that if we just stayed true to this promise, and stopped micromanaging and polluting and disrespecting our children's minds, a lot of the problems we struggle with today would disappear.
I completely agree! I am teaching a writing course to 6-8th graders this summer. I have shown them a foreign annimation, without words, and said tell the story as you see/interpret it. Like art, I want them to create – making mistakes, rewriting, solving problems, etc. I gave some examples and then gave them complete freedom but they keep asking permission to write what they are thinking, trying to not make any mistakes. It is as if they have been so directed in their learning process, they cannot just take the leap into creativity. I am starting to see a few of them begin to have fun with it but some are really struggling.
Interesting approach!