Why Is Boring An Acceptable Response?

Just this weekend, I listened as a bunch of elementary students described how boring school is because of the amount of seat time and worksheets that occupy their day. The response I heard back from the kids? “Well, that’s just how school is.” Why is this acceptable?

I have also been listening to how adults react and the response is always same, “That’s life, get used to it.” Again, why is this acceptable?

Why do we allow learning to be boring? I just don’t understand. Why do we accept this as just the way it is, the way it’s always been, the status quo, a challenge that we must all endure?

What I see posted on Twitter about connected learning gives me hope, but the reality is that this is not the case for all students and until it is, I’m going to do whatever it takes to ensure all students everywhere have the opportunity to be creators, inventors and innovators every single day.

A huge thanks to Dan McCabe for tweeting out this quote because I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m officially breaking up with boring, conformity and status quo (and while I’m at it, I’m breaking up with worksheets and students sitting idly at desks in rows too). I’ve had enough. It is an unhealthy relationship and the results are damaging the future for our students.

We have a responsibility to get this right. Our students are counting us. Tomorrow when our students arrive at our classroom doors full of curiosity, wonder and awe, let’s embrace it, foster it and make this type of learning the norm for all students.