Many of us know Nietzsche’s famous quote, “You have your way, I have my way as for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist“
Autism activist and doctor of animal science, Temple Grandin, who also has autism, talks about how her mind works and says that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids.
BBC -Future interviewed Dr. Grandin and wrote on her unique experience and how it has led her to believe that all minds – no matter how different – have something to contribute to society.
Dr Grandin has a successful career designing humane livestock facilities, as well as becoming a prominent author and speaker on the subject of autism. In 2010 she was listed in the Time 100 list of the 100 most influential “heroes”.
In her interview she discusses America’s educational system. She notes that we are losing all of our hands on curriculum in our classrooms such as cooking, steel making, sowing etc. It is this hands on experience that creates strong minds and allows kids to develop and learn in their own cognitive style (pattern, visual, verbal etc).
Hands on classes teach practical problem solving skills and without this people become too abstract in their thinking, “We need people that know how to build things.”
Dr. Grandin goes on to note that due to different brain structures children should be allowed to learn in their own style. A child who can’t do Algebra should be allowed to take Geometry and Trigonometry first to compliment their brain structure and therefore their most beneficial learning style. They can then take Algebra (as it is a required course) later.
“When your autistic (on any level) you tend to get fixated on one thing. Too many kids today are getting fixated on one thing rather than getting fixated on becoming a computer scientist or veterinarian or something that ends up becoming a career.”
You can watch Temple Grandin’s TED Talk below “The World Needs all Kinds of Minds“: