As we approach the end of the school year, we have been asked a few times if we are winding down our school year too. As infinite learners, we aren’t. There is no beginning and no end to our education.
It caused me to look at our cultural beliefs and wonder how it came to be that we (collectively) believe that a person’s most valuable learning happens between the ages of 6 and 18 in the confines of an institution.
When I reflect on my own learning experiences, I see how I learned my letters and ability to read before I went to school, how I learned about relationships and social interactions from my family, how the things I value most as an adult, are the concepts, skills and crafts I’ve learned as an adult, most often, on my own. It challenged me to ask, what exactly DID I learn in school and were they things that are really important in the grander scheme of my life?
I remember sitting in certain classes in high school wondering when I’d ever use a particular skill. Technology and things are changing so rapidly right now, many of our children will be doing careers that aren’t even created yet, so how do we know what skills they will need to learn? I have learned that things I’m not so good at are things I can either avoid, hire someone else to do or use a computer to help make it easier. And things that didn’t interest me at all in school, suddenly became my greatest passion to when it suddenly became relevant in my life.
So, as I reflect, once again, about education and learning, I see there really is no beginning and no end and no bounds to how or where a person does their most significant learning. I feel my greatest education happened when I wasn’t in school…so perhaps we should give kids more time off school so they can really learn some important things.
Tales of Infinite Learning 
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May 22, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Zanna
This is one of the things I love about infinite learning, too! Last fall when so many kids were back to school, my then 4 year old and I were out enjoying the perfect weather. For example, we’d visit the zoo for a kids’ program and then stay all day, learning and having fun. It’s so much more fun to follow the rhythms of nature and of our own interests than some artificial schedule. I’m sure we’ll both learn a lot this summer, too.
May 22, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Devon
So true!! And not just between those ages, but between the hours of 9 and 3, 180 days a year. It’s downright strange when you think about it.
Though you did get one thing wrong — society doesn’t believe the most valuable learning takes place between age 6 and age 18. That’s all just PREPARATION for the ACTUAL valuable learning you’ll get in college. ::eyes roll:: Because you need 13 years to learn how to be a college student, which is ironic because I think college is way more like infinite learning!!
May 31, 2009 at 4:42 am
flowers
I couldn’t agree more.
I especially love the flexibility of it all, like Zanna said, we are free to follow more pervasive rhythms, like nature and weather, to keep our life interesting and flowing. How could you possibly know that in two weeks from now, at 10:35 you will be in a place to learn about math?
As you know Stone is a mason. He was also a very poor student (in school that is) and I’m sure none of his math teachers raved about him. BUT, when I watch him prepare and do his work it is all math. He’s taking measurements, figuring out geometry, and then figuring out percentages and finances for his business. He didn’t learn how to do this in school, he learned when he had a desire and actual need to be able to know how to do it. I trust my kids will figure it out too….without wasting decades of their life in an institution.