Curiosity Never Killed A Cat

"Curiosity killed the cat" is a proverb used to warn of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation. A less frequently-seen second part to the statement "curiosity killed the cat" is "but satisfaction brought it back" I had never heard the second half of the statement before. But it makes sense. Often we get boggled down with useless information, erroneous data and personal opinion that muddles our focus. The important thing to remember, I tell my students often, is to formulate a plan, implement the procedures, and reflect on your findings. Always have a goal in mind before beginning any lab. Whether it is observation or experimentation the goal will keep you aligned with your curiosity. The second things become complacent and convoluted is the moment the energy or life of the project dies (or the proverbial cat).

Curiosity didn't kill the cat, actually the lack of organization, confusing procedures, or lack of focus did. Curiosity is the driving force for change, either positive or negative, progressive or antiquated. But it always leads to discovery of some sort. Science in general is based on the principals of chaos and equilibrium, exchange and transformation, nature and nurture. Curiosity is the spark in which we identify these principles. We see something and we investigate. We hear something and we follow the sound. We feel something and we experience pain or pleasure. If as humans we were not curious by nature we would have given up long ago. But our desire to survive, our loyalty to life, our persistence of thought has evolved us to where we are today.

In the classroom if students are not given the opportunity to hear provocative questions, to experience discrepant events, to see the paradoxes surrounding them they will lose their curiosity. They need to be shown examples of change and habit and be asked open-ended questions that push them towards inquiry and exploration. They need to be set up to fail in order for them to probe for the truth. Analysis and reflection should guide them to new questions and stronger reasoning skills. This all comes from stepping back as a teacher and letting students stumble and overcome. Making them feel safe to fail and encourage them to do so. For learning is thrust upon us when we are challenged and re-evaluate what we believe to be true. We add to our schema when we make connections and draw conclusions. The force behind both is curiosity. curiosity never killed a cat, in fact it lead the cat to the mouse and provided it dinner.