"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
2006-08-26 18:13:24 · 16 answers · asked by cassicad75 3 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
I love Yeats--brilliant poet. Although, this sounds like a variation of a quote I've always heard attributed to the French writer Voltaire: "A student is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit." Wherever it originated, it's very true. And it's not just teachers who need to remember it, but students too: how many kids do you know who sit in a classroom and rather than trying to fire themselves up, only ask "is this gonna be on the test?" Thinking of THEMSELVES as pails to be filled, rather than as fires to be lit--they have to be part of that solution, too...
2006-08-26 18:27:32 · answer #1 · answered by zeebaneighba 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It's a good one, but it reiterates a point made by Plato more than 2000 years earlier, in the Republic, 518; "Education isn't like pouring sight into blind eyes, but rather turning eyes that already have the power to see in the right direction."
The difference is that Yeats' lighting of a fire might be uncontrolled or uncontrollable. To me, Plato describes education better, whereas Yeats is more about inspiration. But both quotes are great, and they both make more sense than the current theories of education.
Cheers!
;)
2006-08-26 19:56:13 · answer #2 · answered by artful dodger 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never herd of William Butler Yeats, but I like the quote. In a way, its like saying that education is enlightenment. cool
2006-08-26 18:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by Doug favors universal insurance! 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Comparing education to knowledge suggests that there is a finite amount of knowledge that one can attain. A small spark of interest, if it has the right kindling, can grow into an enormous fire with no limits to it's size, and once it gets going, there's no knowing how large it can grow.
2006-08-26 18:22:13 · answer #4 · answered by arwenevenstar1024 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the quote is an acurate discription of education. It makes sense to me because education does not just sit in our mindes to be brought up at will. Education gives up ideas to go out and do things.
2006-08-31 06:22:43 · answer #5 · answered by haiku_katie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bravo , it is more than excellent, just like Plato, Aristotle or more recent philosophers saw the truth in this thought ... even several teachers in my life have told me " My job is not to teach you facts, but to teach you how to think ... for yourself !" ... I've been lucky to have many good teachers.
If you're a teacher, I'm glad. Thanks for your question and take a look at all the sincere and beautiful people who also answered your question .... gives you hope for humanity after all.
Yours Truly;
Jonnie
2006-08-27 11:29:41 · answer #6 · answered by Jonnie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its really cool. if it were filling a pail, it would eventually be done, but if you light a fire, it can burn forever.
This is very similar to my favorite quote:
Education is not preparation for life, it is life itself. - John Dewey
2006-08-26 19:07:16 · answer #7 · answered by kliled 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love it. Education should inspire someone to think for themselves. It is not about regurgitating someone else's crap, rather it is about finding and relating yourself, your authentic self among all the written, verbal and visual stimuli of this world.
2006-08-27 08:39:57 · answer #8 · answered by Optimistic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think somewhere between his quote and Twain's; "I never let my schooling get in the way of my education," I think we may find truth.
2006-08-26 18:28:15 · answer #9 · answered by diasporas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wish every teacher had to start their day by saying it nine times....
2006-08-26 18:16:23 · answer #10 · answered by melissa r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋