Source Entry for Schools Kill Curisoity ~Kamaro D

Part 1 MLA citation:

Berliner, Wendy. “Schools Are Killing Curiosity”: Why We Need to Stop Telling Children to Shut up and Learn.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 28 Jan. 2020, www.theguardian.com/education/2020/jan/28/schools-killing-curiosity-learn

Part 2 Summary:

In the article “Schools Are Killing Curiosity,” Wendy Berliner discusses how schools discourage children’s curiosity. Berliner cites a research study by Susan Engel, the author of “The Hungry Mind.” Engel also actively researches children’s curiosity. In Engel’s research, she visited classrooms and logged the classroom questions. Engel noticed that the youngest children in the school asked two to five questions in two hours. While the 10-11 year olds who failed to ask a single question. In another lesson, she observed a ninth-grader trying to ask a question but was shot down by her teacher. “Zoe no questions now, please; it’s time for learning.” This scene in Engel’s research study supports Berliner’s claim that “Schools Are Killing Curiosity”. Berliner uses another real-life example where a nursery took away its toys and gave the kids cardboard boxes, tin cans, old phones, etc. The nursery did this to encourage curiosity in the children and to allow the children to be more creative. The headteacher “Matt Cadwell” claimed that many teachers were nonbelievers in this experiment but they later came around after seeing the improvements in the children’s curiosity and creativity. Berliner uses this nursery example to show that teachers should make better changes in the classroom to increase children’s curiosity.

Part 3 Rhetorical Analysis:

The genre is feature article. This is a very opinionated piece that informs the reader about the subject. Wendy Berliner’s writing style is informative. Berliner uses the rhetorical appeal of logos throughout the text citing research and using the research to further inform the reader about the subject. Berliner’s purpose in writing this piece is to inform the reader how schools are discouraging children’s curiosity. Berliner’s primary audience for this article is parents. Berliner wants the reader to understand how schools are ruining children’s curiosity. Berliner is credible due to her being the author of the book “How to Succeed at School, What Every Parent Should Know”. The source is also, credible it’s published by “The Guardian”. The Guardian has been a successful news source since 1821. 

Part 4 Notable Quotes:

“School kills curiosity. When do children get to ask questions about things that interest them? As soon as they are at primary school they have to shut up and learn. It’s not the fault of teachers. They have so many targets to meet.” (Wendy Berliner)

“Children should be prompted and encouraged to ask questions even though that can be challenging for the teacher,” he says. “We do need to find some time for questions during the day. There is not enough time in schools for creativity and following up on curiosity.” (Paul Howard-Jones)