The question above addresses an issue of great importance in our society today. Many people believe that they can learn better by themselves than in any kind of school setting. Indeed, many have personal achievements that can be attributed to their own determination, desire, and hard work. However, there are others who believe that school is the only place where one can truly learn, and thus, they value the help and guidance of a teacher.

The first problem with this statement is that some students benefit from a teacher’s assistance more than others. For example, a student struggling with dyslexia may benefit from a teacher who can guide him or her through the learning difficulties. Similarly, a student with attention deficit disorder may benefit from a teacher who can monitor the student’s progress throughout the book. Furthermore, a child who is having trouble with reading comprehension might need a teacher who can provide extra help so that the student can better understand difficult passages. In these instances, the student is better off having the teacher’s help than trying to go through the material alone.

The second problem with this statement is that learning itself is complex. True, there are basic concepts such as addition and subtraction. But there are also concepts such as critical thinking, critical thinking, and critical thinking. Furthermore, there are concepts such as creative problem solving. It is one thing to memorize facts, but it takes creativity to find solutions to problems. It is one thing to understand the rules of grammar, but it takes creativity to write a poem that is original and expresses one’s thoughts on a certain topic. And, it is one thing to memorize the periodic table, but it takes creativity to analyze a chemical reaction. None of these concepts can be taught in isolation, and yet most schools force students to learn them in isolation.

In truth, learning is a process that involves all three of the senses: sight, sound, and touch. A student can easily memorize information through repetition or study. However, true learning is the ability to retain that information and apply the knowledge to a problem. This ability comes from the ability to analyze a situation, to see the underlying patterns, and to see multiple solutions. Furthermore, it is the result of the ability to take those patterns and put them into practice. No amount of repetition or study will make a student capable of this kind of thinking. That is why all schools should have a hands-on lab component where students can learn by doing. But, unfortunately, many schools no longer have labs, and students must rely on their textbooks alone. In fact, some schools hope their students will not use textbooks and instead rely solely on the teacher’s class notes. This, of course, means that the students will not be able to understand the concepts nor be able to apply them, and this in turn leads to poor scores on standardized tests.

The bottom line is that learning is complex, and it can be challenging. It requires an understanding of the subject, along with the ability to apply that knowledge. Therefore, students need both guidance and independence, and neither is better than the other.