We have all heard the phrase … “you can’t fix stupid!” In fact, a school administrator has now been reassigned to the central school district offices because he showed a comedy routine via video to his staff entitled “You Can’t Fix Stupid.”
You would think that educators would have a higher view of their students than to believe this lie. Yes, I said it … LIE! It’s much easier to believe the lie than to understand that for some people you must work harder to help them understand and learn. I’m sure there were those as I was growing up that would have said … “You can’t fix stupid [Don Witzel]“ if that had been the mantra of the day. I’m thankful it was not! I’m thankful that there were people who believed in me and took the time to invest in my education and learning styles.
Often people want to “do” what is “easiest” for them. [The Path of Least Resistance] This usually means “Ram it … cram it into their brains.” [This goes for the workplace as well as the world of public education.] This obviously does not work.
Illustration … just go down to your local Subway and order a foot-long sandwich. Then sit down and try to put it ALL in your mouth at one time. You will either choke or disgust everyone else in the restaurant! [Not a very pleasant mental image - huh?] Too often this is how we treat people who need the expertise and knowledge we share with them.
If we are to really help people learn, we must break it down into manageable bites. Some people can handle bigger bites than others. That does not mean they are smarter than the “small bite people.” It just means their digestion rate is different. Are small bit people stupid? NO! They just require a different approach and process. One size or bite does not fit everyone. The problem lies in our self-centered desire to do what is “easy for us!”
Yes … “You can’t fix stupid” is a lie! Don’t believe it! Decide to work hard with others and see the fruit of your effort and investment. It will be worth it! Remember: People live forever somewhere! Make the long-term investment using the truth! Stupid [uninformed] is not forever!
