Comments on: Learn As a Child

By: Leora

Leora — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:20:20 +0000

what you learn as adult spreads to many memories and connections you have in your brain
What a lovely approach. It is perhaps related to Ilana-Davita’s layered palimpsest, but even better, as with the adult there is the necessity connect the old with the new.
Thanks for joining in on the commentary, Michelle.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:13:42 +0000

You asked why learning as an old man is like ink on blotting paper? To me, it means that what you learn as adult spreads to many memories and connections you have in your brain. Children are busy making new memories and new connections. Our learning comes into established pathways and there are many spokes like a spider web. And you have to keep using those connections to keep them.But maybe that is too simplistic a view..comes from the special education teaching back ground…

By: Pirkei Avot: Recap « Ilana-Davita

Pirkei Avot: Recap « Ilana-Davita — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:28:24 +0000

[...] Leora’s posts: – One Needs Humor. – Books on Pirkei Avot. – Learn as a Child. [...]

By: Ilana-Davita

Ilana-Davita — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:52:01 +0000

I haven’t had a chance to read your post until now but it was worth the wait!
I also like Irving Bunim’s conclusion; it is more optimistic than what other commentators have to say on the subject.

By: Leora

Leora — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:59:26 +0000

Thanks for reading, Daniel. If it we took the mishnah at face value, there would be no point to my father learning as much as he does (he’s 78). But he absorbs a lot, so he must have a young attitude!

By: Daniel Saunders

Daniel Saunders — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:23:57 +0000

Interesting post. I always assumed the mishnah was simply referring to the fact that children’s brains take on new information more easily that adults’ brains. I like the idea that it’s also about an attitude to learning new things.