Education Quote by Neil Postman
““Perhaps we should abandon the whole idea of trying to make students intelligent and focus on the idea of making them less ignorant. Doctors do not generally concern themselves with health; they concentrate on sickness. And lawyers don't think too much about justice; they think about cases of injustice. Using this model in teaching would imply identifying and understanding various forms of ignorance and working to eliminate as many of them as we can.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Teaching as a Subversive Activity by Neil Postman, 1998
Education should target reducing ignorance rather than solely increasing intelligence, akin to how doctors treat illness and lawyers address injustice.
In simple terms: Focus on removing what students don’t know.
Key Takeaway
Identify gaps, then fill them.
Themes
education
ignorance
teaching
critical thinking
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- curriculum design
- assessment
- remedial programs
Key Concepts
pedagogy
knowledge gaps
learning strategies
Questions to Reflect On
- What ignorance do your students most need to overcome?
- How can you measure reduction of ignorance?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring structural causes of ignorance may limit deeper understanding.
