I took your joy. I’ll give it back. Swear.
Please stop telling students that learning should be joyful. I know this makes me sound curmudgeonly, but hear me out before you dismiss my point.
When people say ‘learning should be joyful’ they are often referring to learning in school. Well school brings only a select few students joy. And, let’s not confuse school and learning. They are not synonymous. Learning can be joyful but learning in school rarely is. Students usually just try to get through the school day. Students should want to go to school. Ideally school could serve up some fun throughout the day. Similarly, learning can and should be fun. Learning in school could be fun but it would be even better if it was meaningful. In fact, school usually sucks for most students. That’s the bigger issue. Instead of telling students that learning should be joyful, let's make schools a place of meaning and belonging for students. If each student feels that they belong and school has a purpose - then you have a foundation for joy.
Emphasizing joyful learning can also set youth up for disappointment and stymie their potential. Learning can bring joy, but often that joy comes as a result of successfully overcoming a challenge or even a frustrating process. In schools that tell students that learning is joyful I salute any student who refuses an assignment they do not find joyful. Focusing student attention on joy gives them permission to only focus on those activities that they enjoy or gives them pleasure.
This idea of joy in learning has been in the mix for a while now. I read the seminal articles in graduate school. Some independent schools picked up on the idea a few years later. Some changed their mission statements, marketing materials, and their professional mantras. Joyful learning makes for some great marketing material - the warm fuzzies attract a lot of parents. In reality, however, those same fuzzies can keep individuals in their comfort zone -safe from risk or failure.
Joyful learning tends to emphasize comfortable and easy tasks. However, easy learning isn’t usually effective learning. And while many schools emphasize easy and meaningless learning - that is perhaps part of this country’s educational shortcomings.
Supporters of joyful learning may be complicit in setting up youth to fail. Learning sucks sometimes. Developing a new skill does not always go well. When a student operates at the edge of their ability they will stumble occasionally. The process can get clunky and messy from time to time. Moments of frustration litter the road to understanding. Overcoming challenges and demonstrating persistence- that makes for some joyful moments.
Teachers help students reflect on their process and support their efforts to explore and expand their repertoire of skills and understanding beyond their comfort zone. When students overcome obstacles to enter the next level of knowing, not only do they find joy but the teacher relishes their accomplishment as well. Twice the joy at half the price equals a solid ROI.
As mentioned, sometimes learning sucks. And sometimes we need to embrace that suck. But, a good teacher can disguise the suck or make it bearable. What sucks is two fold. First, not “getting it” blows. No matter the reason when we push and pull on the pieces and they still don’t come together…. UUUU GGGGHHHH. The second part of sucky happens when students feel alone or trapped in the suck. A great teacher dives into the suck with their students. They provide support and encourage students to keep at it and to find a way that works for each student to come out the other side. A great teacher acts like a personal floatation device for students swimming on the Sea of Suck. Pretty soon that student stands on the opposite shore triumphant. This builds resilience and grit. It also enhances their sense of self. The sweet success after a difficult process inspires students and fires them up for what comes next.
If students only do what they’re good at; what they like; or what brings them joy (or what they’re passionate about) they limit themselves and evolve into educational dilettantes. Instead of pushing joy on students, educators would better serve their students by making the process fun and meaningful while providing high levels of support throughout the learning process.
Teachers need to help students enhance their learning practice. Each student has a practice - the process by which they build skill and knowledge. Educators can focus more on helping students understand how they learn and how to make that process more effective and efficient. In doing this, we empower students and build their confidence. These things transcend school. And the by-product of this enhanced, more effective practice - joyful learning.