Re: evitability of pain

Eva Ekeblad (eva.ekeblad who-is-at ped.gu.se)
Thu, 25 Apr 1996 07:45:07 +0100

Francoise
when I nodded agreement to the inevitability of pain I was thinking of
phenomena like those in the Brookfield article I mentioned the other day:
When learning means a change in the learner (as her relations to the world
change) I don't see how pain can be avoided. You experience loss of "your
old self", and your "old world"(in the case of teachers coming to critical
reflection you are very likely to palpably lose many friends) and the "new
self" and world will not fit comfortably from the start.

If we deny an aspect of pain in the process of learning I fear that we will
just add to the hurt the prohibiton of showing signs of pain and
discomfort. Actually I have always hated it when people tell ME: "Oh but
WHY do you feel like THAT! You really shouldn't feel so bad..." when I _do_

Eva