Quixotic Edification - Huh??

Well, I’ve finally decided to go ahead and get a blog started. I admit I’ve struggled with the concept for quite some time. Today, with the help of a Tweet from Lori Sheldon (Thanks, Lori!), I decided that I think about plenty of stuff that must be at least remotely interesting – to myself if no one else. That’s half the reason I can’t seem to get anything done. Too many things are too interesting and I get distracted. I learn a lot that way but it’s not very beneficial to actual productivity.

It is my hope that this blog will give me an outlet for some of the extra “stuff” floating around in my head and perhaps help me to get a little bit focused and organized. Maybe it will even help me to hold myself accountable for implementing some of the ideas I come up with.

My first big challenge as a blogger was coming up with a name for my blog. Of course, I wanted something original. Originality, though, was not enough. It also needed to have meaning. The name I decided on was Quixotic Edification. The definitions of these two words say a lot with only a few letters:

Quixotic -- adjective: Exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical.

If we, as educators, do not strive to reach above and beyond the expected norms and standards as we practice our craft, then how will the change that is needed ever be achieved? While others may see these goals as unrealistic and impractical, we must remember that leaders are not found in the pool of conformity.

Edification – noun, formal: the instruction or improvement of a person morally or intellectually

Personally, I feel that as a teacher I am responsible for teaching my students content. Of course I do. I also feel that is important to remember that students are – well, students are people too. We aren’t there merely to fill their heads with facts and figures but also to help them become well rounded, responsible, and productive members of society – a society that is no longer localized.

(Definitions from my Dashboard Dictionary Widget)