The Power of Inspirational Education

“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.” The Chinese proverb is potent, reflecting what many of us know from our own experiences: there is nothing like hands on involvement to get our imaginations captured, engaged and committed.

The proverb’s approach has been used to great effect recently by Westminster Primary School in Blackpool, England. It has been engaging #nature-deprived kids by involving them in the outdoors, ensuring that the ‘telling’ and ‘showing’ is complemented by the most pivotal element of the adage, ‘involving’ to support real understanding.

It’s an inspiring story for all of us, and one to remember for nature in particular. As The Wildlife Trusts’ Chief Executive Craig Bennett says “spending time outside, engaging with and learning about nature, is paramount to children's #education.”

And, by not only educating kids at a young age about the planet but also inspiring them about it, there is great likelihood of them feeling compelled to build for a #sustainable #future…and (rightly) push we, their elders who caused the issues faced, to do more, faster, better toward that transition.

Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

We are all, in some way, educators. What more can you do to lever the powerful weapon of education to drive change?