Education Quote by Noam Chomsky
““Most problems of teaching are not problems of growth but helping cultivate growth. As far as I know, and this is only from personal experience in teaching, I think about ninety percent of the problem in teaching, or maybe ninety-eight percent, is just to help the students get interested. Or what it usually amounts to is to not prevent them from being interested. Typically they come in interested, and the process of education is a way of driving that defect out of their minds. But if children['s] ... normal interest is maintained or even aroused, they can do all kinds of things in ways we don't understand.””
About This Quote
Teaching challenges stem from sustaining student interest rather than lack of growth; the key is to nurture curiosity.
In simple terms: Teaching is about keeping students interested, not fixing growth.
Key Takeaway
Focus on fostering curiosity in learners.
Themes
education
curiosity
growth
teaching
student engagement
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- classroom instruction
- curriculum design
- student mentorship
- learning workshops
Key Concepts
motivational psychology
learning theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teachers reignite waning curiosity?
- What strategies best sustain student interest?
A Different Perspective
Interest can wane despite best efforts; external factors affect engagement.
![“I wrote an article about the marine landing [in Haiti] right away, but barely mentioned the oil, because my article would come out two months later and I assumed by then, "of course, everybody knows." Nobody knew. There was a news report in the Wall Street Journal, in the petroleum journals, and…” quote by Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc5/noam-chomsky-42_articles_i-wrote-an-article-about-the-marine-land_13341.jpg)
