Rhetorical Analysis
In the Article “Schools are killing curiosity: Why we need to stop telling children to shut up and learn” Berliner highlights the natural curiosity of children versus the structured, approach of schools and teaching methods. Wendy Berliner is also a credible author as is she’s an expert on child development and education so she can relate and bring credibility th what she is wright. The article shows the decline in children’s questioning and exploration as they progress through school. Berliner uses research from the University of Michigan that encouraging curiosity not only enhances academic performance but is beneficial for bridging the gap closes among children from different social backgrounds. This is something readers, especially parents and educators, are likely to find both relatable and concerning. She aims at this audience especially at educators to try encouraging to consider the potential for a change within educational systems. The article is effective because Berliner argues for a change of educational priorities through narrative illustration, research evidence, and appeals to the readers’ emotions, all aimed at highlighting the importance of curiosity in learning. This article still is relevant today as students are still being oppressed from asking to many questions in the classroom.
Notable Quotes
“Children are born curious. The number of questions a toddler can ask can seem infinite – it is one of the critical methods humans adopt to learn” (Berliner Par 8)
“Even worse, as they got older the children gave up asking altogether. There were two-hour stretches in fifth grade (year 6) where 10 and 11-year-olds failed to ask their teacher a single question.” (Berliner Par 9)
“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.” (Berliner Par 20)
