Turning Learning Right Side Up: Putting Education Back on Track

1. Learning and Teaching

Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth learning can be taught.

—Oscar Wilde

Confusing Learning with Teaching

Traditional education focuses on teaching, not learning. It incorrectly assumes that for every ounce of teaching there is an ounce of learning by those who are taught. However, most of what we learn before, during, and after attending schools is learned without it being taught to us. A child learns such fundamental things as how to walk, talk, eat, dress, and so on without being taught these things. Adults learn most of what they use at work or ...