Firelight

A quotation that the Internet has attributed to Plutarch, Socrates, and W.B. Yeats asserts that education is not so much about filling a pot (or something similar) as it is about lighting a fire. That’s quite a trio of scholars, and it would be cool if one of them really said it, but there doesn’t seem to be a strong consensus about who really did.

I like it anyway. And from a personal angle, firelight is my favorite kind of light - the inviting glow, charm, warmth, and comfort. And, my dad taught me a long time ago that there’s a right way to build that fire and keep it going.

Learning theory and brain research tell us that no two people learn in exactly the same way. Despite the efforts of terrific teachers, schools can sometimes be systemically unfriendly to those who diverge - which is all of us, if we’re honest. 

So, I take all of that into account when I apply firelight as a metaphor for the work I do with students. I’m ready to help students learn within existing systems, to help them recapture the ignition to restart and reorganize, and to appreciate the glow that comes from achievement.

Have a seat by the fire. - Laura

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