--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's a radical - and wonderful - new…" description: "\"There's a radical - and wonderful - new idea here... that all children could and should be inventors of their own theories, critics of other people's i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/deborah-meier-33167_children_there-s-a-radical-and-wonderful-new-idea_702329.png" --- # There's a radical - and wonderful - new idea here... that… ![“There's a radical - and wonderful - new idea here... that all children could and should be inventors of their own theories, critics of other people's ideas, analyzers of evidence, and makers of their own personal marks on the world. Its an idea with revolutionary implications. If we take it…” quote by Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/deborah-meier-33167_children_there-s-a-radical-and-wonderful-new-idea_702329.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/deborah-meier-33167_children_there-s-a-radical-and-wonderful-new-idea_702329.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df5/deborah-meier-33167_children_there-s-a-radical-and-wonderful-new-idea_702329.png) > “There's a radical - and wonderful - new idea here... that all children could and should be inventors of their own theories, critics of other people's ideas, analyzers of evidence, and makers of their own personal marks on the world. Its an idea with revolutionary implications. If we take it seriously.” [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Children should be empowered to create and critique ideas, fostering independent thought and personal impact. **In simple terms:** Kids should be inventors of their own ideas. Key Takeaway Encourage children to think and act independently. Themes education creativity empowerment Mood inspirational hopeful Type pedagogical manifesto When to use this quote - classroom projects - science fairs - student-led research - community activism Key Concepts constructivism critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How can schools support student invention? - What barriers exist to child-led inquiry? A Different Perspective Implementation can be limited by standardized testing pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inventor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inventor/) [New idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-idea/) [New ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-ideas/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Radical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/radical/) [Revolutionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolutionary/) [Wonderful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wonderful/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [ “Let us return to Benjamin Rush, who foresaw the revolutionary implications of Benjamin \[Lay\]'s philosophy. Writing after the abolitionist movement had burst into existence… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-fearless-benjamin-lay-marcus-rediker/let-us-return-to-benjamin-rush-who-foresaw-the-revolutionary/) The Fearless Benjamin Lay Marcus Rediker > [I've got a pretty good idea what children are, and we're not children. Children can lose sometimes, and nobody cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-ve-got-a-pretty-good-idea-what-children-are-and-we-re-not-children/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Whether or not LSD research and therapy will return to society, the discoveries that psychedelics made possible have revolutionary implications for our understanding of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislav-grof/whether-or-not-lsd-research-and-therapy-will-return-to-society-the/) [Stanislav Grof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislav-grof/) > [The idea that all are children of God is not found in the Bible anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/the-idea-that-all-are-children-of-god-is-not-found-in-the-bible/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [You are an explorer, and you represent our species, and the greatest good you can do is to bring back a new idea, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/you-are-an-explorer-and-you-represent-our-species-and-the-greatest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [A great scientist is more open to a new idea than almost anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-whedon/a-great-scientist-is-more-open-to-a-new-idea-than-almost-anybody/) [Joss Whedon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-whedon/) > [The World requires at least ten years to understand a new idea, however important or simple it may be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-ross/the-world-requires-at-least-ten-years-to-understand-a-new-idea/) [Ronald Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-ross/) > [Every year, there's a new idea we can't do and a new technology for something that excites us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-howard/every-year-there-s-a-new-idea-we-can-t-do-and-a-new-technology-for/) [Todd Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-howard/) > [The fact is that one new idea leads to another, that to a third and so on through a course of time, until someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-fact-is-that-one-new-idea-leads-to-another-that-to-a-third-and-so/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [At the moment, I'm toying with a new idea for a book, but fully engaged with writing screenplays, so the book idea - which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-tremain/at-the-moment-i-m-toying-with-a-new-idea-for-a-book-but-fully-engaged/) [Rose Tremain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-tremain/) > [Sometimes an old idea gets relegated to the back of the line in the mad delight of a new idea, one you've never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sometimes-an-old-idea-gets-relegated-to-the-back-of-the-line-in-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Most new discoveries are suddenly-seen things that were always there. A new idea is a light that illuminates presences which simply had no form…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-katherina-langer/most-new-discoveries-are-suddenly-seen-things-that-were-always-there/) [Susanne Katherina Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-katherina-langer/) > [If there's a new idea, a new invention, or a new gas, or a new whatever you know, It should be brought at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/if-there-s-a-new-idea-a-new-invention-or-a-new-gas-or-a-new-whatever/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [Every new idea in any field needs protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-catmull/every-new-idea-in-any-field-needs-protection/) [Edwin Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-catmull/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) ## More by Deborah Meier > [Mindset changes are not happening from change in legislation. Like desegregation. We legally got rid of legal segregation, but schools are still segregated. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/mindset-changes-are-not-happening-from-change-in-legislation-like/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [It's the curiosity that drives me. It's making a difference in the world that prevents me from ever giving up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/it-s-the-curiosity-that-drives-me-it-s-making-a-difference-in-the/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [Teaching is mostly listening, and learning is mostly telling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/teaching-is-mostly-listening-and-learning-is-mostly-telling/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [I take enormous pleasure every time I see something that I've done that cannot be wiped out. In some way ... I guess it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/i-take-enormous-pleasure-every-time-i-see-something-that-i-ve-done/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [Good schools, like good societies and good families, celebrate and cherish diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/good-schools-like-good-societies-and-good-families-celebrate-and/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [We are all carriers of our own stories. We have never trusted our own voices. Reforms came, but we don't make them. They were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/we-are-all-carriers-of-our-own-stories-we-have-never-trusted-our-own/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [Teaching is listening, learning is talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/teaching-is-listening-learning-is-talking/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [A passion for learning...isn't something you have to inspire with; it's something you have to keep from extinguishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/a-passion-for-learning-isn-t-something-you-have-to-inspire-with-it-s/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [The art of good teaching begins when we can answer the questions our students are really trying to ask us, if only they knew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/the-art-of-good-teaching-begins-when-we-can-answer-the-questions-our/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [ The only thing they \[government\] want is better data. But data doesn't tell people someone is well educated. It's a vicious circle. There is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/the-only-thing-they-government-want-is-better-data-but-data-doesn-t/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [Some people thought that if you put pressure on kids, parents, and teachers and schools, the pressure alone would produce results. It appealed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/some-people-thought-that-if-you-put-pressure-on-kids-parents-and/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [Only secretly rebellious teachers have ever done right by our least advantaged kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/only-secretly-rebellious-teachers-have-ever-done-right-by-our-least/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [If you ask me, taking on risk and being more daring is a real important part of creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/if-you-ask-me-taking-on-risk-and-being-more-daring-is-a-real/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) > [If you define yourself as someone fixing education, there's nothing short-range you can do to fix education directly. It's labor intensive. You have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meier/if-you-define-yourself-as-someone-fixing-education-there-s-nothing/) [Deborah Meier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) [Explore all 15 Deborah Meier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meier/) ## More Children quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I believe in freedom to do what you want if you aren't hurting others, but pictures of obese protesters giving their children big gulps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-defranco/i-believe-in-freedom-to-do-what-you-want-if-you-aren-t-hurting-others/) [Philip DeFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-defranco/) > [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/) [Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/) > [It doesnt seem to me strange that children should like the macabre, the sensational, and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-hecht/it-doesnt-seem-to-me-strange-that-children-should-like-the-macabre/) [Anthony Hecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-hecht/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [My embarrassing confession is that my father is a 'Camelot: The Musical' obsessive. So as a child, when we were going to visit relatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-chibnall/my-embarrassing-confession-is-that-my-father-is-a-camelot-the-musical/) [Chris Chibnall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-chibnall/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [My school was one of the most beautiful places a child can grow up in. You are surrounded by nature - cats, dogs, birds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/my-school-was-one-of-the-most-beautiful-places-a-child-can-grow-up-in/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [A lesser complaint: hair extensions. There are moments on 'All My Children' when half the women actors, young and old, seem to be afflicted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/a-lesser-complaint-hair-extensions-there-are-moments-on-all-my/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [If my child had prejudice in his head, I'd be ashamed. 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