Feel the Fire!

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

-W.B. Yeats

I’m a quote guy.  I love them.  When I coached basketball we began each practice with the analysis of a quote.  In the soccer locker room, I posted them all over the walls of the “dungeon.”  Many of you rely on quotes, too.  I see them posted in your rooms and spoken to children; all in the quest of imparting sagely advice.  We use them with versatility to motivate, inspire, and possibly in the modification of an action.  There’s a quote for every occasion.  I think my son, Daniel, would agree.  He’s constantly beleaguered by quotes from his every-caring father.

The quote from William Yeats speaks to the heart of what we need to do.  This herculean task is placed before each of us as we grapple with low student motivation, generational and situational poverty, and the stressors from the SED.  Are these late 19^th century words a solution to our 21^st century problems?  I’m asking that you spend time contemplating these words and the meaning for you.  It really doesn’t matter your approach to this exercise, it’s simply a good practice. 

If you’re the type who enjoys a mental exercise, try changing your perspective while completing this task.  The perspective of a teacher is most comfortable for us.  What about the perspective of a parent or possibly a student.  These words may have a different significance.  For those of you who are cognitive giants try to alter your method while delving into the depths of Mr. Yeats’ mind.  Look at it from a philosophical point to understand why he wrote this.  What about the behaviorist in us all who try to place situations with each statement.  The constructivist approach would certainly create meaning. 

I hope you found relevance within this activity. 

Enjoy the weekend.