Stamps From Second Cia Invert Pane Found

PPG - IMHO stage three is the best place to live. Always have the attitude that there is honing to be done, improvements to be made. We may perceive ourselves as being in stage four but that can be dangerous. If it doesn't take some effort, mental or physical, you probably are not improving. Everything can always be improved upon. A rock can be polished more, a movement can be improved in form, an efficiency can be furthered. It comes down to if you feel that something is "good enough" and maybe "good enough" actually is just that. Even then everything can be taken to another level. The difference may be so infinitesimal at some point that many people decide they are in stage four and the juice is not worth the squeeze. But yeah, stage one is not a good place to be parked. It does require the least effort though.

Learning...
At university and while on an early track to become a teacher, I spent a fair amount of time pondering why we seem to lose our enjoyment, and ultimately desire, of learning.

What happens to us? It seems to me that when we are born and for a number of the early years afterwards, we are 'learning sponges'. Consider the quantity and scope of the information we absorb in those early years. It is incredible. We seem to have an intrinsic joy in learning up until about school age. But then many folks (not all) seem to systematically begin to become apathetic toward learning and it becomes less attractive to us as we grow older.

I often wondered if our educational system contributes to us becoming less enamored about learning. Maybe it could related to grades? Imagine we got graded on other things we intrinsically enjoy. Say you constantly got graded on your stamp collecting. Or sex… 'Gee honey, that was about a C-'. Would this cause us to lose our enthusiasm?
Don

Perhaps if she is currently grading on a new curve....

To start with the last part. I am convinced those who knew how to construct an aeroplane at an age of four but had difficulty calculating the square of 1 eight years later are discouraged by most educational systems. I would have been discouraged if primary education would have been vocational.

I am not so sure we lose our interest in learning. Maybe, we just get pickier. I see young friends competing with others when it comes to 'prestigiousness' of the university they went to. I also see them experience what I experienced that may be akin to Europe.

I once remembered a deal falling through a year earlier. My work had been given to someone in a social programme. He went on holiday, and I had to attend to the task during his absence. I finalised the deal and saved the government half a million. My boss asked me whether I should have set that example. It is not the first time I had a boss who never showed his appreciation because he relied on me to do my job - in itself a compliment - but told a blundering colleague who needed ten attempts at a simple task (changing a lightbulb is complicated) how great his achievement was. The more you learn, the more you are taken for granted. Why should I learn if it costs me my free time and does not carry a reward?

However, when I go on holiday, I read study every plaque with information I encounter. The last decade, I have also been soaking up the rules of field hockey. Now, I find myself having an informed opinion on the performance of referees at the highest level of field hockey.

Apparently, I have not lost my interest in learning. I just have become more selective in choosing subjects I find bring me rewards.

NSK,
You are saying that you can just as easily learn something new, like a new language, today as you did when you were 3-4 years old? If so, then you are truly a unique person.

I think that there are a number of reasons why learning is easier when we are young.

Brain plasticity. The brain is more plastic, or adaptable, when we are young. This means that it is easier to form new neural connections and strengthen existing ones. This plasticity is essential for learning, as it allows us to store new information and skills.

Fewer existing biases. Children have fewer existing biases than adults. This means that they are more open to new ideas and ways of thinking. This openness is important for learning, as it allows us to absorb new information without being filtered by our preconceived notions.

More time to focus on learning. Children typically have more time to focus on learning than adults. This is because they have fewer responsibilities and commitments. Adults often have to juggle work, family, and other obligations, which can make it difficult to find time to learn new things.

Less fear of failure. Children are generally less afraid of failure than adults. This is because they are still developing their sense of self and their place in the world. They are also more likely to have supportive adults in their lives who encourage them to try new things, even if they make mistakes.

Natural curiosity. Children are naturally curious about the world around them. This curiosity motivates them to learn and explore. Adults can sometimes lose their sense of curiosity as they get older, which can make it more difficult to learn new things.

In my opinion, several of the things listed above are part of the unintended consequences of a formal education.
Don

Random thoughts on learning:

Having parents or a parent or guardian that reinforce that learning is important and useful is important. Enthusiastic and engaged teachers are important.

Finding your interests and what you are good at is critical. If you suck at math you will just grow resentful trying to conquer math-centric occupations etc.

Recognize that natural aptitude (genetics) play a huge role in what we are capable of. Not everyone is Tom Brady or Elon Musk. This is where the current equity push is so damaging IMO.

Many if not most public schools are designed as one size fits all. A child of eight reading at a High School level or higher sits alongside others that are stuck at a level BELOW their age and the schools tailor their curriculum to the mean average which hurts both. I know this one firsthand. I was the kid voraciously reading well beyond my years in elementary school and grew bored, very bored. While the reading aptitude served me well in life the school experience did much damage. I grew to hate the drudgery of not being challenged and formal schooling in general.

Don't buy into the "you must go to college" nonsense. Vocational training for many is more useful both to themselves and society as well as being cheaper. We now have too many marketing majors and not enough electricians, carpenters etc. If you love working with your hands AND your brain but force yourself to endure unrelated college studies learning will become a painful chore.

Balance the process of learning and recognize that it is both work and play. Look at it as weight training for the mind. Endure some discomfort and enjoy the results.

Always strive to find a practical application to relate a learning act to. The education system would do well to do this more. Applying the principles of physics using a NASCAR race as a teaching tool will go further than reciting out of a textbook. Use the two together.

All of this is for naught without an environment that allows concentration on learning. You can't focus on algebra if you are chronically hungry or your parent is doing drugs or the neighborhood is a war zone. I mean you maybe could but honestly the odds are very much against it.

Teachers will play an outsize role in how a child succeeds in life. The teaching vocation should be merit centric not based upon tenure or union protections of the mediocre. You want the best heart doctor for yourself. You should demand the best teachers for a child.

In public schools increased money (funding) does not necessarily equal greater performance outcomes. This is a provable fact based upon recent government cash outlays vs observed student performance.

Throughout life we will engage in at least two types of learning. That which we enjoy and that which is necessary. While not mutually exclusive they often times don't intersect or are imbalanced. Find the balance so that you never resent the act.

I think that once fear becomes associated in our minds with learning, it become more difficult.

And this is what I think can happen in this community. People 'lurk' without participating because they are afraid of asking questions. They might be less secure in how much they know about philately, they might be intimidated by the thought of making a public mistake. This is an obvious barrier to learning.

This is why I think it is important for folks who respond to new members posts to be supportive.
Don

Making public mistakes can be a great motivator to acquire more knowledge and/or strive for more accuracy so that you don't get that "embarrassing feeling" the next time.

Obviously though, we are all different and not everyone is good with disrobing in public lest they be judged harshly. You have to get out of your comfort zone to grow however. I'd rather post and be slapped than sit in the shadows. When I started on this forum I was made to feel ignorant on a regular basis. Some of the primary culprits are no longer here or are infrequent visitors. My nature was to hit back which was not always wise but felt really good. We are all different though.

The point of being welcoming is well taken though hard to put into practice at times.