The Irony of Independence

Much is rightly made of the need for a child to develop and grow into an independent spirit. Here’s an interesting paradox: thinking in isolation makes a person more dependent, rather than less.

Why? Human psychology. We need to be taught how to think well by those who can do it. Our soulish awareness of that fact makes us timid when we are thinking alone. We want our thoughts tested and approved by others.

That is why we need, to be human, tradition, community, and mentors.

The conventional school is a corruption of these realities.