Nurture or nature

There is a dynamic relationship between experience and the structure of the brain: experience causes changes in that structure, which in turn causes new experiences to influence it. There are individual differences between people based on genetic factors. Because these differences are amplified by the interaction of genetic factors and the environment in which an individual lives, the brain undergoes a constant process of reorganization. The reorganization also ensures that possibilities stored in the genes can be expressed. In fact, this is about learning and the effects of learning on the brain and, by extension, on the skills that a person develops. There is therefore no ideal learning environment that is equally effective for everyone. This also applies to the school. The aim of the school is to convey knowledge that will enable students to take a valuable place in society in their future lives. To do this, learning must be organized in such a way that it has the greatest impact on the brains and behavior of students. To achieve this, the school's learning environment must take into account the developmental stage the students are in, both physically and psychologically. Moreover, it is important to take differences between students into account. Temporal differences in brain development, differences in cognitive capabilities, differences in prior knowledge and experience. It is an illusion that all trees can ultimately grow to the same height. Genetic factors, not education, ultimately determine the upper limit. Then education must be organized in such a way that it offers every student the opportunity to approach that upper limit as closely as possible. If a student is repeatedly confirmed that he does not understand something, the brain reacts very negatively. He loses the motivation to continue his efforts. In early education it is very important to give children a sense of understanding something. However, this must soon go hand in hand with teaching children sufficient knowledge and skills to remain successful in education. That doesn't always have to be fun. Some things are not fun, especially if you are not good at them, but they can be necessary. Many children come from a home situation where no attention is paid to school and where people attach very little value to it. The “street” is also more likely to disapprove of school learning than to praise it.