Schoolchildren of the Round Table

Not only psychologists admit that it is most difficult to get teenagers interested in studying. If in elementary school the “engine of progress” is children’s curiosity, in universities it is a focus on results, then teenagers strive for freedom in everything, but at school it is limited.

In addition, it is pleasant for a 15-16 year old person to realize that he is not just a cog in the education system, it is important for him to understand how and what he learns - it is his choice, he has decided. Traditionally, in school, the teacher is responsible for everything; the question arises: what is the student responsible for? Learning is undoubtedly more productive if the following is practiced at school: any possibility of choice, independent work and acceptance of responsibility by the student, the awareness that education is his own business. But is this possible at school?

First lesson of the topic. I say: “Here is a work plan for you - and you are free. You can study in the office, in the library or on the staircase. We have a free visit.”

"How's the free visit?" They don't believe it! Everyone came to the third lesson.

- Rustam Ivanovich! - asks Dima. — Is this rule... of free visiting still in effect or have you already thought about canceling it?

- It works. You can be there, there and there - work! Come here only when you have done something and want to discuss it.

Without discussion with me, nothing will work anyway, but only at a round table, together with the teacher, you can start to think - here everything is ground up, digested, and something new is formed from the books, films, and interviews read.

Left pedagogical radicals say that the child should be left completely to his own devices - and let him do what he wants and write his dissertations. “Children, do you want it like this... On its own?” They look at me with bewilderment.

Honestly, humanity has not come up with anything better than communication between a teacher and a student, if this is truly a conversation between two interested parties. It’s amazing that out of such a simple and joyful thing as the meeting of an Adult and a Child, people have made the most unbearable and painful activity called the educational process? And the second question: how to return from this state back to humane and effective communication?

And now, having worked independently, everyone returns to class.

We sit down at the round table - this is a feast, a feast of the spirit! Everyone tells what they read, saw and heard, we ask each other tricky questions to look for answers together.

Most importantly, they did all the grunt work in advance. In class, the main activity is retelling texts. But this is not for me. Retelling is to each other. Volodya works with Maxim in a group. Lenya reads a text about rice cultivation in Ancient China called “The Miracle of Rice Plantations.”

By the way, do you know why Chinese restaurants don't serve beef? Why do the Chinese eat so little meat? And why was the population density higher in China even in the Middle Ages than in Europe? It's all about the rice...

The questions are posed by the students themselves. Because they have already done all the regular work outside of class. Lenya told Dima about the rice plantations. Dima said: “Yes, the text captured me.” Dima is a fairly serious young man. And, in turn, he talked about how the table was set in the Middle Ages in Europe.

They have already discussed everything. This is their job. I'm not asking for the content of the text. Only - “Do you have any questions?”

Because the highest manifestation of intelligence (thinking) is the ability to ask questions. What surprised you, what did you find strange about the movie you watched? What puzzles you? Confusion is perhaps the key word. It is with this bewilderment that we work at the Round Table. This is what this table and teacher are for.

Two weeks ago I got sick and stayed home. I come on Monday, and they say to me: “Katya (and Katya is my most revolutionary-minded girl, she said for a long time that all this, Rustam Ivanovich, is complete nonsense, I don’t see any point, she doesn’t go to the magazine - why teach then), so So, Katya sat for 2 lessons and read a book according to her plan.”

There is no teacher, but they continue to study. Like this.