TheImportanceofLearning 　　Learningisvitallyimportantbecauseithelpsusmakeinformedchoicesaboutourownlivesandthesocietiesthatwelivein. 　　Let'sdefinewhatlearningis.Learningistheacquisitionofknowledgeorskillthrougheducationandexperience.Ourabilitytolearnandourintellectualcapacityareintangibles.However,theseintangiblesareyourgreatestassetsbecauseeverythingyoudotoreinventandupdateyourknowledgeallowsyoutogrowfromwhereyouaretodaytowhereyouwanttogo.Learningisaprerequisitetogrowth. 　　Inbrief,recognizethatlifelonglearningisajourneywithnoendinsightandthatnoonecaneverhavealltheanswers.Wemusthavethehumilityorwillingnesstolearnfromothers.Inotherwords,learnfromtheexperts.Wewillneverlivelongenoughtolearnitallonourown. 　　Thewaysoflearning 　　Learningcanbeagreatjoy,yetthatisnotwhatmostpeopleexperienceinoureducationalsystem.Theskillsoflearningaresomethingthatweverymuchneedinourrapidlychangingworld,bothindividuallyandasaculture,yetmostofusare"impoverished"comparedtothepotentialeasilywithinthegraspofoursociety.Whatshallwedo-forourchildren,ourselves,andourculture-toestablishahealthierandmoreempoweringrelationshiptolearning? 　　Ifweweretrulysuccessfulinempoweringchildrentobethebestlearnerstheycanbe,itwouldnotbelongbeforetheywouldinsistonrunningtheirownshow,onbeingself-directedlearners.Bothexperienceandbrainresearchverifythatfreedomandself-directionareessentialtohighqualitylearning.Withoutbasicstructuralchange,thesechangesinmethodwouldatbestbejustasugarcoatingfortheoldauthoritarianism.Atworst,theycouldbecomeaconsiderablymoresophisticatedformofmanipulation. 　　Tosumup,wecouldbeusingmoreeffectiveandmorewhole-persontechniques.