“Education is not filling a bucket but lighting a fire.”William Butler Yeats (1865-1939, Irish poet and dramatist)
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The Thought for the Week is offered for members of the University of Bolton by the Chaplaincy for reflection and response. The Thought does not represent the views or policy of either the Chaplaincy or The University of Bolton. Quotations are taken from a wide range of sources. You don't have to sign in to make a comment - just click the comments link at the foot of each Thought.
2 comments:
Thanks Phil for this first one for comment. My observation is that the author supposes that those being educated should not just receive education but practically act with greater understanding. On a sad note however, other forms of education do destroy just like fire and offer less lighting of the world.
Thanks phil,
Additional to your point that 'filling buckets' is analogous to 'learning facts', the imagery can be extended in that there is a limit to the capacity of 'sheer info' we can hold i.e. when the bucket is full. In contrast, by lighting a 'passion' for subjects in peoples hearts, their passion can continue to burn and will take on a life of its own, consuming (learning) with ever greater understanding (light).
"With all thy getting, get understanding"- the deeper element of passion that changes habits, shapes values and constitutes 'wisdom'
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