A Little Poem

I found this while leafing through a notebook from my grad school days. Two thoughts on that: first, I'm always amazed how many aspects of that program I've used throughout my career (the principles themselves as well as the various paths they've led me down); and second, clearly this was a solid "paying attention" sort of day...

Strudel and Tavern
discovered a cavern,
known for its mystical wonder. 

They traveled the earth
looking for worth
when both disappeared asunder. 

It is there they both learned
of that which they yearned:
To show all the facts pro rata. 

Coming home from afar
Renamed Pie and Bar;
visual representations of data.

Just ridiculous.

The Spirit vs. the Letter

Found this from February 2013:

Which is more important: the spirit or the letter of the law?  On one hand, laws and regulations have been created to protect and serve citizens to the greatest extent allowed and based on the knowledge, beliefs, and traditions of the time they were written.  On the other hand, and especially regarding laws with significant gray area, as well as those that pose a greater impact on the needs of the few vs. the beliefs of the many, don't we have the responsibility as citizens to uphold mutually-beneficial regulations and disregard those that have become out-dated?

In the paper this morning, an editorial sparked my interest in the topic.  A school district had recently adopted a policy regarding the residency of administrators, requiring they live within the district.  This formalized a practice for the past several years, and the school board decided to continue granting a waiver to allow one principal to live outside the area.  Now, apparently while discussing it, the superintendent had raised three points for discussion: the importance of administrator residency, the importance of continuity in leadership, and the importance of honoring contractual obligations.

With that in mind, one board member opted to write a personal editorial, that in his eyes, the last point was the most important, and voted against the waiver on the grounds that living in the district was the rule, and rules must be followed.  Indeed, another letter was written to the paper, expressing her disappointment that more board members didn't vote against the waiver: "I am disappointed that only three School Board members showed commitment, integrity, and knowledge to vote based on the rules in place.  This is leadership.  These are the kind of people that are truly responsible..."

Personally, I find the views of these editorial-writers to be short-sighted and far too rigid to allow for growth and progress.  Neither address the situation of the school, the performance of the teachers or students, of the relationship the administrator has within the community.  Their over-emphasis on the letter of law ignores a significant amount of data necessary to make an informed decision.  

As we weigh any option prior to making a decision, aren't we almost required to consider all aspects?  Don't we have that responsibility, specifically when our decision affects people beyond ourselves, to look at the larger picture?  Now, I could rattle off a laundry list of past examples of the letter of the law becoming out of touch, if not downright immoral, but I think this one example is enough to keep our attention on the issue at hand: do we look at what is written or consider if it's right?

I found this quote last week, and I think I'll be using it more and more:

Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it's the only one you have.
-Emile Chartier

I know I know I know

It happens far more than I'd like to admit. These lengthy dry spells without a single word written. I've appreciated this blog as an outlet, to sit and type - whatever comes out of it usually ends up surprising me as well as tangent leads to tangent and suddenly I've realized something completely new and different, about myself, about the topic, about anything. It has always amazed me where my stream of consciousness takes me, and I am thankful to have this forum to do so.

It just doesn't work as well when I don't use it. Or, as has been the case over the past few weeks, I start writing something but don't finish it. Or I reconsider it. Or end up rereading it after grabbing another cup of coffee only to realize it's absolutely ridiculous. It happens. But I also have been away from this ol' computer too long lately.

And admittedly even I was getting bored with the Multiple Intelligence video idea. So there's that.

But this absence has helped me realize how much I do enjoy writing and getting out of my head. As though it gives me a sense of purpose, a form of simple enjoyment. I suppose writing is my hobby, just more intermittent than I'd like. I suppose that starts with me though. Carving out the time to sit down and put pen to paper. Not making a big deal of it - I think we all know those times when something we do becomes something we "have" to do, and in the end the prep work we tell ourselves is required becomes more consuming than the actual at itself and inevitably nothing gets done. "I'll do it tomorrow". Heck, I just told myself that not half an hour ago. But why wait? And perhaps I'll end up writing tomorrow as well. But that's tomorrow. I'll worry about that then. How's it go? "Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today's a gift. That's why it's called the present." Perhaps paraphrased, and cheesy as heck, but a fair sentiment nonetheless.

So it's time to get back on track!

(Hopefully)