So often, many people think that education is synonymous with learning. But it is not. Education is all about systematic instruction, while learning has to do with acquired knowledge…whether from experience, personal study, or teaching.

Quite often in my inquiry into learning and the many paths it takes, I come across someone who trumped the system and excelled to tell about it. Jonathan Mooney is one such young man.

I like the way how, in the video, he highlighted some of the problems he had in school, like sitting still and filling in bubbles on a standardized test, then went on to list some of his successes in life.

Why do some teachers find it so easy to ridicule the child who is having difficulty getting the concept being taught, or sitting still long enough to hear it?

Why does the educational system put such levity on “drill and kill” instruction; rewarding those students who are able to process information received that way, and punishing those who don’t? And continually doing that in spite of recognizing that those who don’t get it are just as intelligent as those who did.

If you have a children who learns differently, sit with them and watch the video above, then talk about it. Show them the many ways in which they are smart and encourage them to look into their future with hope.

Question: What’s one way you can encourage your child or any child you know who learns differently and feels badly about it?