There is a quote on unlearning that reads: "We should teach our children nothing which they shall ever need to unlearn."
I think (but I don't know for sure) that I understand the sentiment behind the quote. Still, I fear the idea is badly misplaced. Rather than assuming we can know in advance all the ideas, concepts or knowledge which might some day need to be unlearned, I'd argue that it would be far better to teach our children how to unlearn.
The sentiment is similar to the idea so wonderfully captured in this quote: "Trying to child-proofing the world makes us neglect the much more important task of world-proofing the child." To wit, "Trying to teach our kids never to learn something which might later need to be unlearned causes to neglect the more important work of teaching our children how to unlearn." (For the record, I believe the unlearning process should begin in kindergarten–or sooner.)
I don't claim to know definitively how to teach children how to unlearn (in fact the problem with the world might be me) but I would begin by stressing that unlearning might begin by constantly asking questions; challenging assumptions; accepting failure as a natural component of personal growth; and striving to make the familiar strange–and the strange familiar. It might also emphasize the importance of keeping a beginner's mind; growing from one's inexperience; questioning the wisdom of experts; and replacing the phrase "no doubt" with "know doubt."
As always, I'd love to hear your suggestions on how we might all unlearn better.
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