SOME LEARNING QUOTES TO UNLEARN AND RELEARN

Dear students,

Have a look at the quotes listed below as they might of a great benefit to further boast our motivation to keep up learning to the best level possible. Not to forget, some quotes need a careful thought as they might challenge our long established perceptions cum dogmas. To coin what was once said by Rooseevelt 'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent'. The same applies to those foods for thought. We may agree or otherwise. What matters most is they i mean the quotes force our brain to rationalise. And after all we are rational animals.

Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skill through study, experience or teaching. It is a process that depends on experience and leads to long-term changes in behavior potential. Behavior potential describes the possible behavior of an individual (not actual behavior) in a given situation in order to achieve a goal. Learning is defined as changes in a system that results in improved performance over time on tasks similar to those done previously.

A dictionary definition is that it is acquiring knowledge or skill through study, experience or teaching. it is an increase in the capability for effective action. Individual, team, and organizational learning can all be measured by the outcomes that result from effective action.

These quotes can be used to emphasize the importance of learning throughout life and how it improves the personality of the person who undergoes the learning process. These quotes also emphasize on the marked difference in the performance of the people who have learnt from their mistakes over those people who have not.

Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.
Abigail Adams

Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous.
Confucius

Learning isn't a means to an end; it is an end in itself.
Robert Heinlein

Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
Chinese Proverb

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.
Douglas Adams

I've known countless people who were reservoirs of learning, yet never had a thought.
Wilson Mizner

When you stop learning, stop listening, stop looking and asking questions, always new questions, then it is time to die.
Lillian Smith

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way.
Doris Lessing

Only those who have learned a lot are in a position to admit how little they know.
L. Carte

Don't just learn something from every experience, learn something positive.
Al Neuharth

Learn as though you would never be able to master it; hold it as though you would be in fear of losing it.
Confucius

Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.
Douglas Adams

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.
Anthony J. D'Angelo

He not only overflowed with learning, but stood in the slop.
Sydney Smith

Only the curious will learn and only the resolute overcome the obstacles to learning. The quest quotient has always excited me more than the intelligence quotient.
Eugene S. Wilson

Who so neglects learning in his youth,
Loses the past and is dead for the future.
Euripides

Whoever ceases to be a student has never been a student.
George Iles

The wisest mind has something yet to learn.
George Santayana

Much learning does not teach understanding.
Heraclitus

Never seem more learned than the people you are with. Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden. Do not pull it out to count the hours, but give the time when you are asked.
Lord Chesterfield

We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction.
Malcolm Gladwell

What is important is to keep learning, to enjoy challenge, and to tolerate ambiguity. In the end there are no certain answers.
Martina Horner

Learning will be cast into the mire and trodden down under the hoofs of a swinish multitude.
Edmund Burke

Out of too much learning become mad.
Robert Burton

Consider that I laboured not for myself only, but for all them that seek learning.
Bible

Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell 'em, 'Certainly I can!' Then get busy and find out how to do it.
Theodore Roosevelt

Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival.
W. Edwards Deming

Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man.
Francis Bacon

And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
Bible

The king to Oxford sent a troop of horse, For Tories own no argument but force; With equal care, to Cambridge books he sent, For Whigs allow no force but argument.
Sir William Browne

And wisely tell what hour o' th' day The clock does strike by Algebra.
Samuel Butler (1)

By studying the masters and not their pupils.
Niels H. Abel

It is always in season for old men to learn.
Aeschylus

Next these learn'd Jonson in this list I bring Who had drunk deep of the Pierian Spring.
Michael Drayton

It is the worst of madness to learn what has to be unlearnt.
Desiderius Gerhard Erasmus

There is no other Royal path which leads to geometry.
Euclid

The green retreats Of Academus.
Mark Akenside

In mathematics he was greater Than Tycho Brahe, or Erra Pater; For he, by geometric scale, Could take the size of pots of ale.
Samuel Butler (1)

The languages, especially the dead, The sciences, and most of all the abstruse, The arts, at least all such as could be said To be the most remote from common use, In all these he was much and deeply read.
Lord Byron

To the devil with those who published before us.
Aelius Donatus

Learning by study must be won; 'Twas ne'er entail'd from son to son.
John Gay

And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
Geoffrey Chaucer

Learning is a kind of natural food for the mind.
Cicero

When Honor's sun declines, and Wealth takes wings, Then Learning shines, the best of precious things.
Edward Cocker

Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever.
Chinese Proverb

A little learning, indeed, may be a dangerous thing, but the want of learning is a calamity to any people.
Frederick Douglass

Learn avidly. Question repeatedly what you have learned. Analyze it carefully. Then put what you have learned into practice intelligently.
Edward Cocker
There is the love of knowing without the love of learning; the beclouding here leads to dissipation of mind.
Confucius

Here the heart May give a useful lesson to the head, And learning wiser grow without his books.
William Cowper

A man in this world without learning is as a beast of the field.
Hindu Proverb

Suffering is but another name for the teaching of experience, which is the parent of instruction and the schoolmaster of life.
Horace

A wise teacher makes learning a joy.
Proverb

The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after.
Newton D. Baker

He who has imagination without learning has wings and no feet.
Joseph Joubert

A little learning is a dangerous thing, but a lot of ignorance is just as bad.
Bob Edwards

By learning you will teach, by teaching you will learn.
Latin Proverb

Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much, are the three pillars of learning.
Benjamin Disraeli

Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.
William A. Ward

In the end we retain from our studies only that which we practically apply.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe


credits to : http://www.best-quotes-poems.com/learning-quotes.html

THE TRUE PRINCIPAL IN DUMBLEDORE

Dear students,

Sometimes saying nothing and doing nothing is our best resort. Unfortunately, such act at times results in nothingness as it holds water with the adage goes you reap what you sow. Two years in a row we were gathered in a hall engaging ourselves in a dream to clinch the best possible result for English paper, only the select few managed to make it. The rest succumbed to either B, C , D or even E, still it excited some as it depends on certain expectation, some getting C was already a marked improvement.Those hungrier usually aimed higher.You are what you think you are.

That is what we name it game, as life itself is a stage where we mere mortals are players. To play best we must be true to ourselves and the hardest part that many sane beings fail to comply with is to say no, say no to idling, relaxing,procrastinating,and of course cheating that was rife lately.Honesty deems no longer the best policy as many people conspire to clinch thrones meant not for them.

I myself am still struggling practicing to say no as this shows that we are a free man.Destined to live not at others' whim but our own ideals.This is what according to Dumbledore differed Potter from Riddle or Lord Voldermort in the Chamber of Secret, though Potter was destined to Slyterrin.He chose Gryffindor instead.Ironically, this is what we should practice the least or we will be stripped of rights and privileges for that.He always weighed with great care news within his earshots as wrong judgement has its ripple effects let alone if they are far reaching for generations to come. What happened in our school, hearsays dominate the game.Failures have since been viewed as curse.Why not give due recognition to those who registered a number of As instead of naming only one student whose name was not at first correctly announced. That was nothing to some. However, to me it indicated that they cared not their in charge. I am so sad on behalf of Ainur and his comrades. They gave her all to make school proud only things did not go their way this time around. Those the like of Ainur, Aina and Iman whose short of only an A still deserved at least recognition for jobs well done.Sadly, no mention at all as a bulk of their fellow friends fared badly. It is not their mistakes or failure when our school overall performance was bad. It is the mistakes and faults of so many other parties as well be they school top brass, teachers or fellow friends. We English teachers did our part already as we managed to at least maintain the possibility of churning out 10 students with straight As. Yet, it felt like to the eyes of others ,we did something horribly wrong!

Those guys who got even an A still deserve a pat on their back given the school with so many people at loggerheads with ever changing policies. School embracing we-are--more-powerful-than-thou spirits deems to doomsday.It is tantamount to waiting for a ticking bomb.

I am of the view though insanity that Dumbledore of Hogwarts school is possibly the best man for the job as he is always true to his principle. To find the like of him is no small task as we teachers and students alike are after different dreams and believe different fairy tales. Only i am too rational to be a peacemaker,let alone a negotiator as it demands compassion or alluring words which i can hardly find both in me.

Reading some great books like Animal Farm and Potter series was like enjoying a cup of pudding after sumptuous dinner .What a blessing in disguise!Oo Allah..grant me my wish to let me live life to my principles though be hated by some.

Sir

HAIL THE RAMBLING OF THE NEW OLD BEETLE

Dear students,

Enough is only enough once we called it enough despite the fact that it is way from being enough. This system of thought reminds us that we mortals are hapless, thus invariably subject to the ultimate power. And most importantly, it deems we should rather settle for things for nothing but to appease our ever revolting desire to achieve and to make a mark or break a new record like what many explorers did.Or truly did Ibnu Batuta travel for record breaking feat? no! i definitely disapprove this baseless notion or even if they claimed Marco Polo or Columbus did for record. Here, record comes at no number as to them what mattered most was new discovery and new challenge they set themselves.We the mere spectators who contribute very little or none are busy with analyzing which is explorer considering the length of coverage and time take to finish the last league. The victims amongst others like Elli's solo around the world sailing feat, whose age barely 16 years old was denied a throne for some technicalities. Only she was already mature enough to ward off mindless critics, expert on nothing but demeaning criticisms.Nadal's questionable streak of failures against another living tennis legend Fedex in the final masters meetings humbly gave a quotable comment when he said what was important is he always improves his games.How simple it sounds but deep in meaning. The rest of course will speak volumes.Forget about record as that is not a worthy cause for concern.

Within one to two months' time, all of us I mean teachers will be gathered somewhere to analyze , to present, to predict and most importantly to strain our very ears for the same old comments by the no-need-to-name be they praises or criticisms in the name of constructive one. I see no relevance but not knowing why? given the result and the motivation of students and teachers alike are year in year out same. To me, it lies deep down inside our heart core of where we truly desire to bring our students by taking a note that we can make a difference should we be prepared and honestly expect for it. For this to take place, it requires a set of change of perception and can-do-it beliefs as this ,as Dan Brown nicely put in his latest book the lost symbol, if repeatedly chanted inwardly with faith will bring about tremendous impact and unleash superhuman power.

The both notorious and popular state man Adolf Hitler's aptly put quote 'If you win you need not explain..but if you lose you should not be there to explain' rings true at most occasions nowadays as people are fond of associating themselves with success and brag about others' as theirs for nothing but success.People are at times evasive to believe the points regardless of being substantiated or not as failure is a stark failure and people try hard to disassociate from it.So, Hitler's idea of mere presence meant nothing and mere success self-appoints countless voluntary speakers. How magic the word success that leave those without it like nothing more or less like a maggot.How unfair and insane this temporary world when a borrowed success is always benchmarked not on the incremental improvement shown over time.

Above all, this is directed to none but myself as at least putting things to words can remind me more often like never before. And to end this nonsensical rambling i would to coin nice words by renowned motivational speaker Tony Robin 'What we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are'.

Sir

RUN YOUR OWN RACE

Dear students,

To some of you, it seemed trepidation and anxiety of waiting for the outcome of all your efforts throughout this year bore fruits when you register considerable success especially for English paper in the just released result of PMR. Like Miss Farah said, 10 percent getting A is already an achievement, the feat that broke last year's 7%. Seemingly, both this year and last year's batch share their own record to register the highest percentage of A and the highest percentage of passing rate respectively. This year's batch by all means should owe last year's clearing track as they set the new dream that we i mean both students and teachers dared dream. And our dream to set another history proved to be a reality. Given the number of students for this year is less than 100, we might have fared better.Statistics may indicate some but not to all as countless other factors are to be taken into account. However, to lament by thinking what we might have otherwise done is not advisable as the present is always already a gift that is why people call it present. I do believe things happened according to God's grand design to show what we are capable of doing and not capable of.Grateful i am.

Nevertheless,the good news is this year's result initiated us to think like never before should we expect sort of different result.What we did this year is almost same or slightly different from that of last year that resulted in more or less the same outcome.And to think is what many people dread as doing routine is always a preferable option including me.We may set a routine for new routine as life without routine or discipline is haywire.Doing routine at all time is dull or boring.Unfortunately, doing the same thing over and over again believing that is the best thinkable option is detrimental as we deny the faculty of thought endowed by The Almighty requires us to stretch way beyond imagination like what great inventors did.

The first thing that should be a must to do next year if my motivation permits despite surrounded by scores of little napoleons is to remove goal post and run our own race.Our problem of not achieving the targeted result is not we don't have goals but our goal is too close that we can effortlessly score.The goal that does not demand our wildest imagination.Rarely we heard administrators or teachers alike talked about a new dream or a new clear cut picture of what the students look like or are to become or to behave. More often than not, we spent considerable amount of time to fill the must- fill -in-slot enshrined by the mighty bodies of either jheat or jpn or both that we tend to forget the core business our very own product we know full well residing within our very own vicinity running to and fro before eyes. We can hardly spend money allocated to students per head or fully utilize school utilities meant for students for fear factor and privatisation.It seems a waste of public fund if school heads fail to project the outcomes by laying out plans which are of most benefits to students.That is the damning reality that we should live in while at the same time have to join the race. Until or unless the school heads are not at loggerheads, though they appear not(good thing) but the whole world know they are,innocent students will remain as victims and situation will deteriorate over time. Blaming games and holier-than-thou attitudes permeated in some parties should be cleansed once and for all. I admit to the fact all is easier said than done. I rather highlight as this scenario will definitely put off any faint-hearted would be full-fledged educators.

Apart form removing the present goal post,another thing which is long overdue that school must do is to create a reading culture. We need to project activities that may promote reading to some extent students themselves are in awe of themselves for without realising it having read countless articles and books. Again, this is also another easier- said- than- done thing. Only, i am fortunate to have few like-minded teachers who dare dream, dare run own race.I hope I still enjoy running this year's race like i have been enjoying over the years during my teaching career. I should not liken this race like the one that includes Bolt ,Johnson and the like, enough if the race my mine keep improving over time.

The third and last thing, i should not sweat the small stuff as it might be the simple yet applicable ways to keep the little things from overtaking our life which is too great to fret over small stuff. May God shed us light to discern between small stuff and big stuff as we are at times in the dark about it.

Sir

GOOD JOB GUYS! PMR 2010

First of all, congratulations to all on your achievement in PMR. I am glad to know that 11 got A in English! I am pretty sure that is the best achievement in English suject so far in the history of SMAS as more than 10% scored A compared to last year (7%). You make us proud! And to those who don't, do not ever be devastated as you are already a winner through your numerous efforts like attending twilight classes, Serie-A etc. Remember that God loves to see our struggles, not the end result as He is the One who decides on that matter.

So, as the result is all there, all that we, teachers can do is to analyse it and reflect on what we can improve on for next year.

Lastly, before I stop, below is an article written 3 years ago by someone that I think worth-sharing.

A small stop in the journey
Comment by SOO EWE JIN
The Star Online
Friday December 28, 2007

The results for the PMR are out today. Sometimes we forget that the Form 3 students come from the length and breadth of the country.

Not every student will have the privilege of being ferried to the school in a nice car, accompanied by an equally anxious parent, to see how many As will show up on that slip of paper. Not every student will have the privilege of being featured in the newspapers or TV station jumping for joy. Or being interviewed about their study techniques or the rewards that await them.

The majority of the PMR students, if you put things in their proper perspective, will quietly collect their results and prepare for Form 4. Some may not even be able to collect their results because of the floods, but life still goes on.

The obsession with As is primarily an urban phenomenon. It used to be crucial only at the pre-university stage, but over the years has crept downwards so that even 12-year-old children sitting for the UPSR are subjected to unnecessary tension.

I am reminded today by what my Form 3 teacher advised all of us in her message in our class magazine.

She wrote:

Put in total dedication in your studies,
Pursue learning with real interest
It is such spirit which will carry you
Far deep into fields of knowledge
Be humble in your achievements
The truly great man is never puffed up
Rather he stands in awe
In realisation that there's still so much
To know which is beyond him
Never be discouraged by failure
Not all are born great
But many achieve greatness
Through sheer industry, determination and perseverance
School time is also the time to build up
Precious, meaningful, lasting relationships
Be interested in the world around you
Be intelligently informed
Don't develop into scientific recluses
Remember sports, music, literature and the arts
Have much to offer to help build you up into well-balanced individuals
Able to understand, know, enjoy, better
The world you are living in

This teacher has touched many lives. She has helped produce her fair share of multiple-A students but she also knew that the ordinary students without the As can go on to lead meaningful, rich lives, if they are well-rounded caring individuals who recognise that results are not the be-all and end-all of the school journey.

To all students taking the PMR results today, by all means rejoice in your distinctions, but do not despair over your credits and passes.

Life is a journey, and the PMR is just a little stop along the way for you to pause and reflect, and to move on.

LIVE CURIOUS

If you are, you breath. If you breath, you talk. If you talk, you ask. If you ask, you think. If you think, you search. If you search, you experience. If you experience, you learn. If you learn, you grow. If you grow, you wish. If you wish, you find. If you find, you doubt. If you doubt, you question. If you question, you understand. If you understand, you know. If you know, you want to know more… And if you want to know more, you are alive…

ARE WE ALIVE ENOUGH?

LOFTY IDEAS WORTHY TO PONDER BEFORE NEW LUNAR CALENDAR

Dear students,

A day short before the looming of the new lunar calendar that marks 'the pilgrimage'.Attached herewith is an article worthy for reflection. We may agree or disagree,or agree to disagree, take a thing or two for self kaizen though. And we are free to choose the way we live ,wander,love, hate,learn, teach which is not to our amazement but not die. And die we and everyone must, and ironically we prepare the least for the surest of all.Interestingly it may, to lose hope is part of a premature death. It seems many especially teachers like me will have died many times before the final bell tolls. Dr Theva seemingly gives countless yet plausible reasons why we must reason our reasonable doubts to churn reasonable beings.

Sunday December 5, 2010

Learning evolution
COURTING CHANGES
By DR THEVA NITHY

Information is freely available, but students must know how to turn meaningless data into knowledge and wisdom.

IN Malaysia, the advocacy movement for new curriculums and standards remains in the rhetorical stages, and this is jeopardising the future and potential of the diverse talents of our learners.

They are becoming irrelevant even as they climb the educational ladder to greater heights of knowledge – knowledge that is already irrelevant as they “learn” it.

Outdated approaches to learning and knowing are taking us backward instead of forward.

A major part of the problem is that education systems are preparing students only for higher education, when they should actually be preparing students for higher education, life and the workplace – which together, constitute the real world.

There remains the old problem of there being no clear link between educational content in schools, with workplace skills and requirements.

The big question is, what is the vital component of intelligence? Is it the core content of knowledge, or is it the ways of knowing content?

Outdated core subjects

The traditional way of doing things in schools globally is to provide “core” subjects – which are based on skills required in the industrial age – that provide a fixed quantum of knowledge.

These are: languages, the sciences, math, accounting, commerce subjects, religion even, history (or rather, a version of it, based on the country’s agenda), geography, general knowledge (decided, of course, by the powers-that-be), with some music and the arts thrown in.

I would propose that no student in any country anywhere needs to be told about general knowledge, religion, morals, and personal histories. Students should not be made to memorise science and ways of doing math — which should be based upon understanding, but are more usually based on memory. They should also not be brainwashed into believing one-sided perspectives of history and geography.

One of the big objectives for me as far as a learner’s life is concerned, is that it should be full of “Eureka” moments, when all the learning and knowing he has been exposed to come together and he goes into high gear, ready to take on the world. Therefore it is important that educators understand how learning occurs for their students, so that every student will experience that moment.

In a world where information and knowledge is changing every second, we must educate students to know how to know, to know how to learn, and to know how to turn freely accessible data into wisdom.

Thus, every learner must come to be ingrained with the following attributes:

·independent enquirers who are able to make wise, fully-informed and real-time decisions, and the willingness to participate not just in lifelong learning, but also the creation of new knowledge;

·creative thinkers with a view of global dimensions and sustainable development;

·reflective learners who apply creativity, critical thinking, ethics and morals to constantly self-evaluate and self-correct;

·teachers of fellow students and their own teachers, as teaching represents the highest order of understanding meaning behind facts;

·effective, action-oriented participators in national and international events and issues;

·team workers who believe in community participation and service;

·self-managers who create healthy lifestyles for themselves, and have real acceptance and understanding of diversity in religion, race, culture and beliefs, with none advocating supremacy over another; and

·expert communicators in the global language, that will enable them to present, discuss, and debate ideas and thoughts.

The important dimensions that would contribute to the above would then be woven into the whole curriculum, and would then guide the creation of items that make up a learning environment.

The educating and learning environment would stimulate and demonstrate the development of the following:

·a clear division between the political and educational systems;

·new ways of thinking and knowing based on new knowledge and technologies that are constantly evolving;

·programmes of professional development that help educators and administrators cope with and master new ways of knowing, and the ability to facilitate learner’s autonomy, purpose and mastery;

·revolutionary approaches to content knowledge mastery that exist to provide learners stepping stones to thinking and knowing, and the mastery of which is not the expected final outcome;

·brand new content that mirror the workings and demands of the real world, and not compartmentalised, subject-based curricula that are the norm now;

·acceptable and measurable ways to collect evidence of students’ relevant knowledge, skills and understanding; and

·inclusive, individually stimulating environments (classrooms) that cater to the creation of a thinker and a knower.

The learning environment of a proposed ideal field of interaction is represented by the triangle in the diagram above (see pic). The diagram shows the Evolution of Knowing – from meaningless data to wise, informed decision-making. A³ Knowledge is Anytime and Anywhere Access to Knowledge.

> Dr Theva Nithy is a senior lecturer at the School of Educational Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Through this column and through the Engage Programme – Education for Sustainable Global Futures – USM has started, he and his colleagues hope to help transform the landscapes of Malaysian education systems. He can be contacted at theva@usm.my.