WHY LEARN

Dr. Rachel Cox addresses Upper School assembly

Every September, the Riverdale Upper School community gathers to hear a member of the faculty provide a personal response to the question, “Why Learn?” Director of Science Research and Upper School science and philosophy teacher, Dr. Rachel Cox, was chosen as the fall 2022 speaker. During her speech, Rachel shared, “We are a species of learners…We are constantly learning, questioning, quibbling. Why do we do this? Let’s think about this question from an evolutionary perspective. We learn for our survival. We are biologically programmed to work and learn because learning is aimed toward a goal, survival. All creatures have to do this basic type of learning to some extent. Learning is when a being alters a behavior based on a previous experience so that experience can be better managed in the future. Learning – something that happens automatically for us – assumes a future.” Watch the full assembly here.