“Learning has to include an amount of failure, because failure is instructional.”

Angelo Giamatti said, “A liberal education is at the heart of a civil society, and at the heart of a liberal education is the act of teaching.” Below is an amazing talk by an amazing teacher. Diana Laufenberg is committed to creating an environment in her classroom that begets insight. In her years of experience, teaching kids around the country, she has discovered that a key ingredient in creating a successful learning environment is failure. That is, granting her students the space to make a mistake, “process it, and do better.”

In the talk below, Diana Laufenberg shares her insight, which I think is great food for thought. It raises questions, not only about education in our country, but also challenges the way we parent and relate to our peers. If we were to make some space, by pushing aside the ridiculous expectations we place, not only on our children but also on our co-workers, friends, and neighbors we might find a more harmonious environment…an environment that fosters insight and development. Perhaps, we might even consider granting ourselves a bit more space to “make mistakes, process it, and do better!”

—

Elephant Meditation is now on twitter… Click here to follow us!

Elephant 365 is an example of Elephant Journal’s commitment to the Mindful Life. Everyday we will offer a new reading regarding meditation practice and the spiritual path, all infused with a fresh perspective on traditional spirituality. If you would like to follow Elephant 365 on FaceBook click here and become a fan of Elephant Meditation by clicking the “Like” tab at the top of the page.