Bird Droppings April9, 2025
Should we question our questions many times?

Yesterday, I was sitting in my computer area after a week or two of articles and innuendos about who and why Georgia students in high school and middle schools across the state do so poorly on certain mandatory tests. These are Georgia’s version of course-end tests in subject matter. Sadly, the state knew in some instances ahead of time that the failure rate would be high and still administered the tests. I am always amazed by state educational systems and by individual teachers who teach to fail students. I just finished a discourse with a colleague about passing a fellow who had a 79 on his end-of-course test in Algebra and was failing the class due to homework not being turned in. When you look at his overall work, he has an eighty-six percent, disregarding the homework portion of the grade based on his test scores and quizzes. For me, that was a no-brainer. He mastered the material, and does you cause trouble for next year’s teacher, failing a kid who knows the material and happens to be SEBD, severely emotionally and behaviorally disturbed, and refuses to do homework and hates this teacher.

“To find the exact answer, one must first ask the exact question.” S. Tobin Webster

“Ask the large questions, but seek small answers. A flower, or the space between a branch and a rock these are enough,” Kent Nerburn

I wrote an email to a friend only a few moments ago, sitting here gloating at issues I should have and could have addressed before they were issues. Some days, I am bad about letting the flow go and spill over, as it may be. I read this line from a book I am reading, and now I wonder about the answers I was seeking. Maybe too often, we seek large answers from small questions or ask the wrong questions, thinking we know the answer.

“Quality questions create a quality life. Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers.” Anthony Robbins

Somewhere on my shelves in my office, maybe in a drawer, are a series of tapes from this self-help guru; he occasionally has a good thought or two. Max Thompson of Learning Focus School fame uses the term “essential Question.” We need to ask an essential question and build from there as we develop our course or train of thought. Several weeks ago, I used some thoughts from Zen teachings over a thousand years ago and from Socrates, who also taught by asking questions.

“You can tell whether a man is clever by his answers. You can tell whether a man is wise by his questions.” Naguib Mahfouz

“The uncreative mind can spot wrong answers, but it takes a very creative mind to spot wrong questions.” Anthony Jay

A wrong question, can that even be? Could a wrong question be asked?

“If you do not ask the right questions, you do not get the right answers. A question asked in the right way often points to its answer. Asking questions is the A-B-C of diagnosis. Only the inquiring mind solves problems.” Edward Hodnett

Over the years, I have acquired many books dealing with the care of animals and have even participated in publishing several in days gone by when I was in that line of work. Years back, we found a book that diagnosed fish disease and other problems. It was questions with various answers, such as if answer A goes to page 3, or if B goes to page 6, then on page 3, if A goes to page 34, and on 34, if C, then this is the disease. In looking at questions and answering, you literally could follow your way to a diagnosis. Essentially, it was the dichotomous key of fish disease. A good friend in Virginia literally borrowed the idea and wrote a sheep manual in a similar fashion that has become the Ovine diagnosis book of choice across the country. Actually, I have my name somewhere in there as a resource and editor.

“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” Decouvertes

As I read this, I had to think, “If you know the answer, why question?” Is the paper white? I know it is, but I am questioning, and in questioning, I will show it to be white, so in effect proving its whiteness or not. I learned it was white even though I did not know it was.

“He must be very ignorant, for he answers every question he is asked.” Voltaire

“To find the exact answer, one must first ask the exact question.” S. Tobin Webster

“For example, when you sail in a boat to the middle of an ocean where no land is in sight, and view four directions, the ocean looks circular, and does not look any other way. But the ocean is neither round nor square; its features are infinite in variety. It is like a palace. It is like a jewel. It only looks circular, as you can see at that time. All things are like this.” Eihei Dogen, 1200-1253

Maybe we who ask the questions need to listen more carefully to the answers and, in listening, learn as well, a symbiosis of sorts. It is about the beginning of another day and another sunrise to see. Talking with a friend through messaging on the computer is all she looks for, and as she rises each morning, she is thankful for another day. She is a survivor, having survived breast cancer, and you know what, as simple as that sounds for some. For her, in particular, each moment is a miracle, and after seeing her each morning smiling and thankful for another day, my day goes so easily, and I, too, am thankful. We are getting ready for the Memorial Day weekend, thinking of our fallen friends and family members. I ask with a sincere heart, please keep all in harm’s way on your mind and in your heart, and always give thanks, namaste.

My family and friends, I do not say this lightly,
Mitakuye Oyasin
(We are all related)
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