I Actually Don’t Know
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” — Einstein
I do not have all the answers. It’s true. I am not omnipotent. I am still learning. And actually there are certain things that no historian knows. There are mysteries in history. Such as “Who are the Sea People?” We don’t actually know. Sure there are theories, but no one knows for certain. And that’s okay.
We don’t always need to know the answer. Sometimes the beauty lies in the unknown, the possibility. We can speculate, we can put together the pieces, even though some are missing. We can entertain theories and stories. We can even makeup stuff to have a little fun.
For some reason we teach students that we always need to know the answers. And by extension, the teacher always knows the answer. That is simply untrue and even dangerous. What is going to happen when a teacher truly doesn’t know? Are we supposed to make something up? Do we lie? Do we admit we don’t know and therefore lose all respect from students? We shouldn’t be afraid of the unknown. Not knowing something doesn’t mean you are a horrible teacher. Likewise not knowing something doesn’t mean you are a horrible student. It just means we aren’t done learning. We are still on the path of discovery, just like everyone else in the world. We all need to take a minute, admit we don’t know everything, and them wonder at the mysterious. Go and try to find the answers you seek. If there aren’t any, speculate on the answers. Ask others if they have any ideas. Share your thoughts. Walk the path of discovery.
So the next time someone asks a question and you don’t have the answer. Don’t panic. Calmly respond “I actually don’t know, do you? No, let’s find out if anyone else does.” Let’s start on the journey of discovery together. It will be okay. If we stumble along the way, others will be there to help pick us up so we can continue. I promise, I will be there for you if you are there for me. There is no shame in not knowing. It’s the not knowing that leads to great advances and discoveries.
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