Celebrate International Ask a Question Day Every March 14
Einstein surely asked many questions during his life. So it’s appropriate to celebrate International Ask a Question Day on his birthday, March 14 (in 1879).
Now, if you’re a truly curious person the first question you might have is “Isn’t every day ask a question day?”.
Well, yes you can ask a question whenever you think of one. On any day of the year. After all, asking questions is how we learn.
And saving all your questions for this one day of the year would make today a very busy day indeed. Especially for the poor people who would have to answer them. Those people wouldn’t have time to ask their own questions!
But sometimes we worry our questions are stupid. Or at least will make us look stupid.
Maybe you’re not sure who to ask?
Or maybe you’ve been too busy with “more important” questions and issues to indulge some questions sitting in the back of your mind.
Today’s the day to remember that no question is stupid. No question is unimportant if you want an answer.
So ask away!
Ask family and friends. Ask a teacher. Ask an expert in the subject.
You can even ask Google (or your other favorite search engine).
As long as you realize that none of the above has all the answers. And the answers you get may or may not be true.
Albert Einstein said “Question everything.”
So ask your question. And then question the answer …
So far we have not been able to answer the question of who started this day or when.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficially curious holiday.
Celebrating International Ask a Question Day
As mentioned, today’s the day to ask questions.
But you may not be sure what question to ask. Or how best to word your question so others can understand it.
Believe it or not, you can learn how to ask better questions. Check out these simple steps for becoming an outstanding question asker. (PDF)
Or think about these Top Twelve Questions for Success. (PDF)
Read books about questions/questioning. Here are a few ideas:
- Change Your Questions, Change Your Life By Marilee Adams (of the Inquiry Institute)
- The Book of Questions: Revised and Updated By Gregory Stock Ph.D.
- Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking By M. Neil Browne and Stuart M. Keeley: This is actually a textbook for college students, but it can be useful for anyone who wants to improve their critical thinking skills
Your children probably already ask lots of questions. It’s what kids do! But that doesn’t mean they don’t need more. Gregory Stock has also written a book for them: The Kids’ Book of Questions.
Pledge to have better family conversations at dinner. Consider TABLETOPICS. These sets of cards with a variety of questions can keep conversation going for hours. They come in several different versions, including dinner party, family and couples. There’s even a set for teens—you know, those almost grown people in your house who never speak!
And here’s one final question for you: What question(s) will you be asking today?
[…] International Ask a Question Day: Today’s the day to ask away! Whatever questions you have, ask someone who might have the answers. […]