"What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child"

George Bernard Shaw’s words express a deep understanding of the nature of effective education. The image he evokes places the child as the active seeker, driven by genuine interest and curiosity, instead of being a passive recipient who is force-fed facts and information. Traditional education models often reverse this relationship: instead of encouraging children’s natural appetite for discovery, institutions and curricula chase after the child, attempting to impose knowledge with little regard for individual pace or personal enthusiasm. Shaw’s insight is a call to change this dynamic.

When a child is engaged and curious, learning becomes effortless and meaningful. Curiosity is the engine of intellectual growth. Encouraging children to question, explore, and wonder sparks a hunger for understanding that external compulsion cannot match. Genuine pursuit comes from within; it is intrinsic motivation that leads to lasting mastery, critical thinking, and creativity. If education focuses on this internal drive, knowledge becomes a reward, not a burden.

On the other hand, the idea of “knowledge in pursuit of the child” suggests a system where information is pushed onto students regardless of their readiness or interest. Such methods may produce rote memorization, surface-level achievement, or even resistance to learning. When knowledge is treated as something to be delivered, rather than discovered, children may disengage or lose their natural excitement for learning. This approach stifles curiosity and undermines confidence, making learning a chore rather than an adventure.

Shaw’s statement is a reminder for parents, teachers, and policymakers to value the child’s innate potential, to create environments where questions are encouraged and mistakes are seen as opportunities. The role of the educator, then, is to nurture and guide, not control or dictate. When children are allowed to pursue knowledge freely, learning transforms into a lifelong pursuit, sustained by wonder rather than obligation.