My Philosopy On Education or Like Moths to Hamlet

I recently spent a few days spreading applications to school districts in hopes that some unsuspecting Principal might unwittingly make me Mr. Bates again and uncage me with the minds of his students.

What is your philosophy on education?
(CVSD Certified Personnel Application, p. 2)

My answer:

To me education is using the subject matter to build a fire so bright and warm and inviting that students and their friends and their parents gather round because they can’t resist the fire’s draw. And once they’re in close and mesmerized and comfortable they’ll pick up sticks and start poking at the flames and writing their names with smoking embers and melting everything not bolted down. And then they’ll take their burning sticks and wander off into the darkness to explore, and then they’ll wander back because they love the illumination of the fire and the camaraderie of their mates. Eventually, they’ll break out food and start to sing and play music and tell jokes and burn their shoes and stay up all night talking about love and death and Hamlet.