For the Sake of the Call

For the Sake of the Call

Jan. 25, 2008 - Filling a pail or lighting a fire?

Today's meme from Heart of the Matter is to share your thoughts on this quote by William Butler Yeats, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

I'm not sure I've always agreed with this quote. I was one who advocated higher standards for education and cultural literacy. What Your Kindergartener Needs to Know was one of my earliest homeschool purchases, and was followed by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade editions. But somewhere along the line between the pages of Charlotte Mason and Ruth Beechick and Sally Clarkson, I discovered this quote, and the more relaxed (and the less classical) I became in homeschooling my children, the more I embraced the sentiment that is expressed within.

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

Life is about learning. There is so much to learn that it is absolutely impossible to learn everything in 12, 16, or even 20 years of education. Just because someone has earned a doctorate does not mean that they know everything there is to know--even in one subject. This being the case, it seems that the best approach to education should not be one of cramming as much information down a child's throat as possible until they groan at the thought of school and despise education, but of inspiring children to desire to learn, and equipping them with the necessary tools so that they can continue learning throughout the rest of their lives.

I have learned through my own children (one in particular who shall remain nameless) that the quickest way to put out the fire and the passion for learning is to douse it with water through the seemingly necessary filling of the pail. Fill her mind with wonderful stories, and she'll delight in writing some herself. Insist that she write a story on a particular subject by a certain time with the proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and she may quickly decide that she hates writing and balk at doing it (no matter how gifted she is in storytelling). Sit a boy down with a list of dates and important events and instruct him to memorize them for the test tomorrow, and you'll create a boy who thinks history is boring (and who learns to cram for a test only to forget everything he studied once the test is over). Put an historical adventure in his hands, and he'll be spouting the information with excitement; and will have made memories and gained knowledge that will remain with him for a lifetime.

Through reading, research, and experience, my philosophy of education has evolved, and I appreciate more and more the joy that comes in lighting a fire in the hearts and minds of my children. I still think that children ought to master their times tables, and certainly know how to read, and write. And I believe that they need to know God's Word, and have a basic understanding of American History. But the volumes of "what your child should know when" sit on the shelf gathering dust. I'd rather not be bound to some well-intentioned "expert's" ideas of what's best for my children. I'd rather they enjoy reading, and writing, and great literature. That they have fun playing math games, and cooking. That they learn how to find things out for themselves. That they learn how to exercise wisdom and discernment. That they grow in godly character; in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with man and with God. There is so much to learn. Oh, that they would have a passion to learn it! The irony is that the more I learn to let go of the notion that I must fill the bucket, the more the bucket fills. All the while, the spark grows. It's a beautiful thing!

"Isn't it splendid to think of all the things there are to find out about? It just makes me feel glad to be alive---it's such an interesting world. It wouldn't be half so interesting if we knew all about everything, would it? There'd be no scope for the imagination then, would there?"

Anne Shirley

Anne of Green Gables

by Lucy Maud Montgomery

For more thoughts on this quote, click here.

Grace and Peace,

• Post A Comment!

Jan. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MiryClay

Hi Angel!

My friend Fiffi over at gibbonsfunschool has this quote on her blog. The quote reminds me of a song that the Bishops sing called, "We Need To Build A Fire" Hope you have a great rest of the week.

Blessings,
Lori

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Jan. 25, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Honeybee

We would all do well to remember that. Unfortunately, it's a bit like keeping our eyes on Jesus. We glimpse away for a second, and quickly forget everything.

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Jan. 26, 2008 - I appreciate your thoughts...

Posted by ReviewsbyHeidi

....and also wanted to say "thanks" for visiting my blog the other day. I was surprised, the very next day, to see you on the front page here at HSB! Congrats on being blogger of the week~ that's always fun!
Enjoy!
Heidi

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Jan. 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MasonMoments

Thanks for your words of wisdom! I always enjoy hearing what is on your heart and this was something I really needed to hear. -- Amy

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Jan. 29, 2008 - I am so blessed!

Posted by WisdomBuilders

It is people like you that are not ashamed to speak out about lighting a fire instead of filling a bucket, that have blessed me so much. I have two little ones who are barely starting their journey in learning. Oh how I wish more people that are just beginning had this information, too. My children LOVE to learn, and I know, because of stumbling across this information early on, that they will never loose their love for learning. It really isn't stumbling across it though, is it! It is God's leading. I had never read a single Charlotte Mason book or otherwise, but time after time, God lead me to different people, blogs, and websites that lit a fire in my imagination about the possibilities that lay before me! Educating the Whole Hearted Child is my absolute favorite!!

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About Me

Philosophical musings from the heart of a home-educating mommy of four and wife of ten years. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer." Psalms 19:14