#268. Confucious Understood

Confucious said, “The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life.” If we could just get every one of our students to embrace this wonderful quote, our teaching would be so much easier. If we can get them to ask questions more freely, those questions will allow us to understand where we might have lost them, what isn’t clear in our explanation or their understanding, or what might need more details or examples. Questions are the fastest way for us to assess not what we have said, not what they have heard, but rather what they have understood. But so often I find students are reluctant to ask questions because they are afraid of sounding foolish. I’m hoping that by my sharing that profoundly perfect quote of Confucious with my students – by saying it, writing it on the board, or putting it on a poster – I can convince them of the importance of asking questions. But maybe far more important is our reaction when a student does ask a question. Will we sound annoyed? Will we sound harried? Will we answer curtly? Will the inflection of our voice sound a bit like the question was foolish? But if, conversely, our reply is welcoming, positive, appreciative, and helps correct misunderstandings or fill in details, students will feel that asking questions is as fruitful as it is encouraged. Yes, we have all had those students who incessantly ask questions, but if we can just be a bit more patient in those moments with those students, it will send a valuable message that those words of Confucious are alive and well in our classrooms.

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America