8 toxic mental models you learned in school (that you have to unlearn as an adult) 👇
1. Convergent thinking
School rewards getting to a singular “right answer.”
Thinking like everyone else is good.
We never learn that the best ideas come from divergent thinking — let alone that just because everyone thinks something doesn’t mean it’s true.
School rewards getting to a singular “right answer.”
Thinking like everyone else is good.
We never learn that the best ideas come from divergent thinking — let alone that just because everyone thinks something doesn’t mean it’s true.
2. Conformity = success
In school (both academically and socially), success comes from fitting in. Most of us internalize chasing conformity as a metric for “doing well.”
We forget that in the real world, the greatest rewards go to those who dare to be different.
In school (both academically and socially), success comes from fitting in. Most of us internalize chasing conformity as a metric for “doing well.”
We forget that in the real world, the greatest rewards go to those who dare to be different.
3. Regurgitation = education
Repeating what someone else told you is not thinking, and it’s not learning.
It’s just parroting.
Unfortunately, it’s also what most of school consists of — just memorizing answers.
Most of us graduate thinking that’s what learning is.
Repeating what someone else told you is not thinking, and it’s not learning.
It’s just parroting.
Unfortunately, it’s also what most of school consists of — just memorizing answers.
Most of us graduate thinking that’s what learning is.
4. Failure is bad
School punishes failure. It gives kids bad marks if they get the wrong answer.
This is intended to incentivize effort, but it also makes kids fear failure.
Success in the real world requires lots of failure. To get good at something, you have to fail first.
School punishes failure. It gives kids bad marks if they get the wrong answer.
This is intended to incentivize effort, but it also makes kids fear failure.
Success in the real world requires lots of failure. To get good at something, you have to fail first.
5. Authorities are right
So much of school is centered around authorities’ opinions — everything from the right answer on a test, to your own “worth” as a student (whether you’re a “smart kid” or an “average kid”).
That default deference is hard to shake, but it’s important to.
So much of school is centered around authorities’ opinions — everything from the right answer on a test, to your own “worth” as a student (whether you’re a “smart kid” or an “average kid”).
That default deference is hard to shake, but it’s important to.
6. IQ = book smarts = life potential
School equates book smarts with potential.
But you can be bad at school and brilliant in other ways.
“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it’s stupid.” — Einstein
School equates book smarts with potential.
But you can be bad at school and brilliant in other ways.
“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life thinking it’s stupid.” — Einstein
7. Learning is a top-down activity, not a dynamic skill
Learning is something that happens all the time. You’re learning every time you fight with a friend, make a pitch and are rejected, try a new skill, etc.
It’s not just something that occurs in a classroom.
Learning is something that happens all the time. You’re learning every time you fight with a friend, make a pitch and are rejected, try a new skill, etc.
It’s not just something that occurs in a classroom.
8. Asking for help and sharing resources is bad
School teaches us that it’s “cheating” to work together on a test.
And yet, the real world rewards efficiency. Using resources means getting things done faster. Moving faster = moving farther.
It’s a *good* thing to work smart.
School teaches us that it’s “cheating” to work together on a test.
And yet, the real world rewards efficiency. Using resources means getting things done faster. Moving faster = moving farther.
It’s a *good* thing to work smart.
8 toxic models you learn in school — the tl;dr:
-convergent thinking
-conformity = success
-regurgitation = education
-failure is bad
-authorities are right
-IQ = book smarts = potential
-learning is a top-down activity, not a dynamic skill
-working smart is bad
-convergent thinking
-conformity = success
-regurgitation = education
-failure is bad
-authorities are right
-IQ = book smarts = potential
-learning is a top-down activity, not a dynamic skill
-working smart is bad
What else would you add to this list?
If you found this thread helpful:
• retweet the first tweet so others can find it
• follow @rebelEducator for more ideas on improving your kids’ education
If you found this thread helpful:
• retweet the first tweet so others can find it
• follow @rebelEducator for more ideas on improving your kids’ education
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