The theory can actually be traced back to the work of 17th-century philosopher Rene Descartes. He made a point by proposing it, advancing the thinking of the time. From our perspective, however, its applicability is limited, and it’s beyond surprising that it has lasted until this day. And it’s done great damage in education, resulting as it has in lost potential among students and a system that insists that children sit still in order to learn. The theory runs particularly contrary to everything we know about young children, for whom, as experiential learners, movement is the preferred mode of acquiring knowledge.