I spent twenty years in the classroom.  What a silly place.

And, I hate the word silly.  I never use it.  Unless I am looking at academia.

In school, we punish kids for failing.

In life, we learn by failing.

One of my favorite quotes is by Richard Branson, founder of Virgin airlines:

“You don’t learn to walk by following the rules.  You learn by doing, and by falling over.”

In school, we are taught the exact opposite.  We are taught to follow rules.  Line up.  Sit down.  Raise your hand.  Be quiet.  Finish your paperwork (homework).  Turn in your papers (homework).

Education needs a reminder.  Here’s one from Theodore Roosevelt

“The only man who never makes a mistake is the man who never does anything.”

Want to tick me off?  Just tell me to line up.  Tell me to sit down.  Tell me to raise my hand.  Tell me to be quiet.  Tell me to turn in my paperwork.  Tell me not to fail.