A few weeks ago, I blogged on noticing things.  But this is not a new idea; long before Education was a thing, there were parable about noticing things. 

In South Asia, and in India, the sages talk about the third eye of God; it was to symbolize this that initially Hindu folks placed a bright red spot on the center of their foreheads.

In one of Terry Pratchett's books, he introduces one of his most delightful characters: Tiffany Aching, who was a little witch.  She had to be tutored by an adult witch, who was Granny Weatherwax (Esme Weatherwax, actually).  Granny instructed Tiffany to open her eyes, and then open them again.  Throughout the world I'm sure there are similar exhortations to young Padawans to look, and to see things that the uninitiated miss.  And for students of music: to hear what untutored ears overlook.  And for Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts exploring the woods: to listen.  This was Baden-Powell's gift to young people, to extend all your faculties.  Reading the Jungle Book, you get the same message, but now it is life and death, and survival.  Jesus taught something similar: He who has ears, he said, let him hear.  (This is not telling you to leave someone who's listening to a podcast alone; it means Listen carefully!)

Life is too short for a teacher to be following you around, saying: Did you notice this?  Did you notice that?

Arch