The Student Defense

Teachers and their supporters have developed numerous defenses that have become overused. These defenses almost seem conditioned due to their tendency to show up just about every time that they encounter the appropriate trigger.

Trigger:

The Student Defense is usually triggered by an argument about how ineffective modern schools are. While the related Parent Defense is more popular, the Student Defense could also be triggered.

Argument:

It is ultimately up to students to learn, but they don’t want to learn.

Flaws:

This isn’t nearly as bad as the Parent Defense because there is a valid argument involved. Learning is the responsibility of the students. The argument that they “would rather play video games” has become a cliché. It also helps shed some light on where the teachers are wrong.
These days, video games appeal primarily to the older students. Why are the teachers focusing on high school students rather than kindergarteners? It’s because the children who enjoy learning the least are the children who have spent the most time being around teachers, and teachers insist that learning must be a chore.
We show a healthy curiosity about things at a young age that helps us learn how to walk and talk. At that age, we generally love to learn. Teachers have no right to complain about students lacking the desire to learn when they are the ones who destroyed that desire.

Related Misconception:

Misconception #2: Teachers struggle to teach because kids don’t want to learn