Misconception #24: If kids want to learn, they will do well in school

Over the years, I have been writing about misconceptions regarding the schooling process. The purpose of these posts is to explain why I disagree with various comments that I have heard people make about schooling. These are meant as personal thoughts rather than conclusive proof, and I will admit that I'm not always the best at explaining my thoughts. Regardless, I have decided that I should be willing to share these posts when I encounter someone online who makes an argument that I have already discussed.

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A lot of teachers insist that one of the problems that they are facing is that most kids don't want to learn. They insist that their jobs would be easier if kids came to class with a desire to learn.

It is true that after years of being told that learning must be chore, most kids don't want to learn. This isn't always the case. Some kids do want to learn. Unfortunately, these kids will end up with the lesson that learning gets in the way of schoolwork. If they truly want to learn, it will come at the expense of performance in school. These students are likely to struggle in school, and teachers will generally look down on the student with a trait that they claim to want.

Part of the problem here is that teachers don't understand the difference between wanting to learn and wanting to get good grades. The students that they like are the ones who will dedicate their childhoods to their schoolwork. These students are motivated more by their grade point averages than a desire to learn.

Whenever a teacher talks about how much they would love it if they had students who want to learn, please keep in mind what they actually mean. They want students who will mindlessly do as they are told, even if they have to give up on the learning process. After all, this sacrifice is the key to success in our schooling system.