Friday
2 December
2011
8.05a
Two plus two equal five, or perhaps it equals three
Answered => “If you had to pick one—what is the single most important subject everyone should know, beyond “core” subjects taught in the early years?” on Quora.
=> My answer…
Please allow me to dance a bit on the edge of “the box”.
Empathy / “management”.
At the end of the day it comes down to the right people on the bus and getting those people to execute. These concepts apply to building a snowman as much as they do to building an empire.
No one will deny, understanding that in math 2+2 equals 4 is important. Understanding that in life that 2+2 (people) could equal 5 or 6, or 3, 2 or even 0 is just as important.
Within that context, I’d also suggest “establishing a sense of true self” and “self-management”. Within groups individuals often come with plenty of “baggage” (e.g. fears). These not only compromise the individual, they compromise the group too. Being prepared to live within groups is important. I understand that much of grade school is about socialization. I’m simply suggesting it be less passive and more curriculum driven. I’d don’t recall anyone every teaching me that 2+2=5 it can equal 3.
Produce stronger better people is essential to learning, growth, development, progression, etc. There’s only so much an individual can know and understand. However, as teams the potential is infinite.