Giving Students a Sense of Self

In discussing education, there is a saying,” Teaching children how to fish rahter than giving them fish that already caught”. Looking at this saying from children’s point of view, it means if we continue to be given fish that other people caught,we will always be dependent upon other. Instead of we learn how to fish for ourself, we can become self reliant and independent of others. In essence, we learn “how to fish” by developing self learning ability.
What is “self learning”? Self learning is when one studies willingly, solve problems independently and correct their own mistakes. In the KUMON method, worksheet are graded in small steps, and include examples when the new concepts are introduces so that students can learn independently. Students solve the problems by looking at the examples.
Some parents seeing the word “self learning” may be under the impression that we do not teach the students or give them any guidance at all. That is not true. We do give guidance to students. However, if we teach in response to each query that a student has, we would ruin the opportunity for the child to become a self learner. That’s way at KUMON there is no teaching at the initial stages. If we teach the students everything, they are unable to develop self learning abilty by themselves. Therefore, we let them attempt to work out the answer on their own at least for the first time. If they continue to have a problem than of course guidance is provided.
Kumon’s goal is to make students independent in the future, however, we often give children answer too quickly. Children are often given fish but not coached how to catch a fish. Therefore, what parents think to be kind and thoughtful maybe inhibiting children’s independence.
At KUMON we are always aiming to equip students with life skills. Like most parents we want children to develop ability to set their own tasks, learn and think by themselves, make independent judgments and act on their own to find better solutions.