Pourquoi l’élève perd-il le désir d’apprendre ? | Philippe Meirieu

In this lecture, Philippe Meirieu poses a fundamental question about education: how can we cultivate a desire to learn in a student who cannot simply be forced to learn? Schools can make education compulsory, organize curricula, set objectives, and develop teaching methods. But the act of learning remains profoundly individual: the student must personally engage in the learning process. It is around this challenge that Philippe Meirieu develops a fascinating reflection on pedagogy, motivation, the role of the teacher, and above all, on what he calls the joy of understanding. Through the history of pedagogy, Philippe Meirieu revisits, among others, Comenius, Itard, Pestalozzi, John Dewey, Célestin Freinet, and several major educational theories. Their problem remains surprisingly relevant: how to teach not only those who already want to learn, but also those who resist learning, who feel alienated from school, or who have gradually lost confidence in their ability to succeed? The conference notably examines a statement that teachers often hear: "This student isn't succeeding because they aren't motivated." But Philippe Meirieu suggests reversing this logic: what if some students are no longer motivated precisely because they have experienced too many failures? A lack of motivation is then no longer simply the cause of academic failure; it can also be a consequence. This reflection leads to a crucial pedagogical question: should we wait for a student to be motivated before teaching them something? Or is it precisely part of the teacher's job to create the conditions that allow this motivation to emerge? Philippe Meirieu then analyzes the contributions of John Dewey and inquiry-based pedagogy. A lesson should not simply provide an answer; it must allow the student to encounter a question, a difficulty, or a contradiction that gives meaning to the search for an answer. Knowledge then becomes a means of moving from doubt to understanding. This approach also leads to project-based learning, notably in the work of Célestin Freinet. But Meirieu also points out its limitations: completing a project does not necessarily guarantee that the student is truly learning. They may sometimes seek to achieve the result without engaging in the learning process. This is where a particularly important distinction emerges: children often want to know, but wanting to know is not yet wanting to learn. Learning requires time, effort, trial and error, and sometimes the acceptance of difficulty. The true pedagogical work, therefore, consists of gradually transforming the desire to know into a desire to learn. Philippe Meirieu also develops a central idea of ​​this lecture: the joy of understanding. To understand is to suddenly see previously separate elements come into being. It is discovering a rule, a concept, a structure, or a meaning that gives coherence to the world. For Meirieu, this joy constitutes one of the most powerful experiences that school can offer. This reflection continues with what he calls the pedagogy of the masterpiece: introducing students to literary, artistic, or scientific works capable of stimulating their thinking, but also allowing them to produce demanding work of which they can be proud. Finally, Philippe Meirieu emphasizes an essential dimension of the teaching profession: knowing how to listen to the student beyond preconceived notions, categories, and judgments already formed about them. Education also rests on this ability to create a relationship of trust that allows the child to feel capable of learning. He particularly stresses the importance of mutual support, diversity, and a school capable of welcoming those whom society or institutions sometimes tend to exclude. This conference offers a profound reflection on education, pedagogy, school, learning, academic motivation, the joy of learning, the transmission of knowledge, culture, and the teaching profession. 👉 If you are interested in the work of Philippe Meirieu, educational sciences, pedagogy, teacher training, and the major issues facing contemporary schools, please subscribe to the channel and turn on notifications. 🎬 Original video: Original title: Carte blanche to Philippe Meirieu: the joy of learning Channel: University of Reunion Island Publication date: May 30, 2017 Original link: Carte blanche à Philippe Meirieu : le plai...