I love quotes. And of all the quotes I have ever read or heard about teaching, these simple, yet profound words of William Butler Yeats always find their way to the top of my list. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”  His words empower us, remind us, instruct us, warn us, motivate us, and inspire us. They are a magnificent description of what teaching should be all about. Packing a child’s brain with facts and techniques is the “filling of a pail” that will all too often be forgotten as soon as they are learned, and do little to make them want to learn more. But the “lightening of a fire” of curiosity, excitement, wonder, interest, awe, confidence, and enjoyment will serve to have students become lifelong learners eager to learn more. Lighting that fire isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. Always.

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America

About the Author

Dr. Boonshaft, Director of Education for KHS America, is the author of the critically acclaimed best-selling books Teaching Music with Passion, Teaching Music with Purpose, and Teaching Music with Promise. He was honored by the National Association for Music Education and Music For All as the first recipient of the “George M. Parks Award for Leadership in Music Education.” Dr. Boonshaft was selected for the Center for Scholarly Research and Academic Excellence at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY, where he is Professor Emeritus of Music.