Basic HTML Version
3 I The Best Online Education System in the world
TURN CURIOSITY INTO LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
Dealing with curiosity can be done in two ways: you could either give a sensible answer or a bad one. A great
answer can often prove to be sufficient or it can further lead to even more questions. A bad one always leads to
more questions, with none of them leading the asker to the truth. It is important that as parents and teachers,
we need to learn how to give answers that satisfy the curiosity of those entrusted to our care. We also need to
find ways by which those under our care can seek better answers when we ourselves are unable to provide
them.
The process of learning is, ideally, never ending. Once a student or a child stops asking questions, he or she
might no longer have need for us to give them answers. Where else should they find a welcoming ear to listen
to their questions and provide answers for them? From their peers? The internet? Without our supervision?
We all know it’s not quite advisable to let loose our kids on the web. There are too many dangers lurking at
every search engine corner and cranny.
I guess this is what has made cybercrime such a booming industry. With too many innocent children having
access to computers at home and out, cybercriminals are having a heyday perpetuating their crimes. Those
criminals know how productive riding piggyback on innocent children through the internet can be. As parents,
we must stay vigilant that our children’s curiosity does not lead them astray.
They truly deserve more, but never in a bad or destructive sense.
That’s precisely the reason why we also have TV and movie censorship. This era has been able to produce a
tremendous amount of movies, documentaries, reality shows, TV fare. As parents, we should strive to
encourage more intelligent viewing, both for TV and film. If we simply let our kids choose which film to watch
or which TV program to follow, they will ultimately lose their set of values. Don’t we all work hard to push great
concepts into their minds? Can staring at the boob tube the whole day ever replace one hour of book reading
or studying with us? In these busy times, many of us most likely have so much on our plate that we sometimes
tend to neglect our responsibility to be primary providers of wisdom and knowledge to our kids. Our kids are
beautiful creatures who will never stop asking questions till they’re old enough to find answers on their own.
And even when they reach that stage, we should always be there for them to answer whatever life questions
they need to ask.
Remember: when a student or your child stops asking questions, he might not have use for your answers any
longer. That is always a fearful stage to contemplate getting into.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.
Do you remember being curious as a child? Describe that stage in your life.
2.
How do you satisfy your curiosity? What or who are your main providers of answers?
3.
What are the potential hazards of being too dependent on the web for answers to our questions? How is
this magnified in children?
4.
Why do many children get addicted to the internet? Be as specific as needed.
5.
What questions about life at large do you seek answers to? Have you found good answers so far? Why or
why not?