Most decisions are made either by love or fear.
As an experiment, think about that today. Every choice you make. Love? Or fear?
Bringing your kids to activities, providing for them, all that wonderful parent stuff? That sits pretty firmly in the love column.
Paying the electric bill? That's more in the fear category. I don't know anyone who loves paying bills. But we are certainly afraid of the electric being cut off or the house being foreclosed on. Rightfully so.
I believe the same holds true for learning.
In school, are we learning through love? Or fear?
Some time ago, I believe mainstream school fell into the "fear" category. All based on an old-school notion that if kids don't fear the metaphorical whip (in the form of grades), there won't be a reason for them to learn and they'll get lazy on us.
But ask anyone this question...
Would you prefer your children to love learning? Or would you prefer they learn through fear?
I can't imagine many would choose the latter.
Plus, we know this isn't effective. Same goes for the workplace. The greatest cause of success or failure is employees having control over the work they do.
But, this is scary for employers to consider because they worry that anarchy will ensue without rules and penalties.
A great book on this topic is Daniel Pink's Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
Anyway, getting back to learning...
Grades, penalties, and fear of the future aren't going way.
So, what can you do as a parent to pursue love-based learning for your kids?
You can supplement school's fear-based learning system with learning that is done by choice.
Learning based on curiosity. Learning based on creativity. Learning that excites kids. And adults, for that matter.
Music lessons are a great option for this, as are any of the arts.
Fostering this natural love of learning is what will bring the next generation true happiness and success.
And isn't that what we all want for the future?