Education: Going to School or Learning to Learn? with Dr. Naomi Fisher, Ph.D.

We are taught that an education is a vital component of
success.  We define education as going to school. 
Whether through public schooling or the more expensive version of
the same concept, private schooling, children are shepherded
through a system that makes learning a 12 year long process of
mastering how to follow the rules and perform for rewards.


On today’s Quantum Revolution episode, we’re talking to
Naomi Fisher, a clinical psychologist, about her
book, Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their
Own Learning
(https://www.amazon.com/Changing-Our-Minds-children-learning/dp/1472145518/)


 According to Fisher, children today have easy access to an
enormous amount of information, from all around the world. The
news is not hidden from them and much of the news is not
reassuring.


In addition, most of them spend their days in an environment
which makes very specific competitive requirements of them, and
over which they have almost no power. When they refuse to
cooperate with this, they are said to be suffering from school
refusal, or perhaps school phobia. This is often thought of as an
irrational anxiety, a bit like being scared of spiders. But is it
irrational to refuse to go to school? Instead of assuming that
distressed children must be disordered, let’s think about whether
school is an environment in which all children can thrive.


About 33% of children in the school system manage to do
well.  Some even thrive.  But what about the other
66%?  Even more frightening, approximately 30% of children
in the United States have been diagnosed - and some are even
medicated for - having learning problems.  Have we really
bought into the idea that only 33% of us are smart and capable of
success? Could 30% of children be incapable of learning or be
somehow educationally “broken” and often in need of medication to
make them compliant?


Dr. Fisher in her book, Changing Our Minds
brings together research, theory and practice on learning. It
includes interviews with influential thinkers in the field of
self-directed education and examples from families alongside
practical advice. This essential guide will give you an
understanding of why self-directed education makes sense, how it
works, and what to do to put it into action yourself.  You
may find the book on Amazon – click here or find it at your
favorite book seller.


Dr Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist and EMDR consultant
specializing in responses to trauma. She works with adults and
children, including those with diagnoses of special educational
needs. She has a PhD in Autism. She has hands-on experience
raising two children as self-directed learners. Her writing has
featured in The Psychologist, Tipping Points, The Green Parent,
SEN Magazine, Juno and more.


We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr. Fisher on how we can
change the education system to help children to learn and grow in
whatever way works best for them.


You can find out more about Dr. Fisher on Twitter
https://twitter.com/naomicfisher  Thank you for joining me
for Quantum Revolution.   Please be sure to subscribe
to this podcast on your favorite platform so you don’t miss any
of the amazing shows we have in store for you.  Join us next
time when we talk with Dr. Eric Kaulker about emotional effects
of trauma and stress.


Learn more about remembering the truth of you are and get your
free Quantum Human Design Chart at
https://freehumandesignchart.com/