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| Flickr Creative Commons Photo by tubb |
Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
by Emily Dickinson
Tell all the truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise
As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
It's data analysis season in our schools. We've been looking hard at the various "truths" that different pieces of data tell us about students. Each one has its own slant, and to get at the core truth of each child as a learner -- the TRUE true, as it were -- there are so many things to consider that we're all feeling a bit dazzled.
But the more we know, the better we teach: "Success in Circuit lies."
But the more we know, the better we teach: "Success in Circuit lies."
Catherine has the Poetry Friday roundup at Reading to the Core.
Yay for Emily Dickinson.
ReplyDeleteSo very TRUE! Important to keep in mind when discussing data.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wise poem.
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to read Emily's words.
ReplyDeleteHoping all the explanations are wise, Mary Lee. It must be challenging to take it all into what you already know. How did Emily know about our lives today when she wrote so long ago?
ReplyDeleteOh data analysis....ugh...so important to keep the whole child in mind, as you say - we're all so much more than numbers and figures!
ReplyDelete"The Truth must dazzle gradually." How true, except perhaps in the case of Presidential elections.
ReplyDeleteYour philosophical approach to the task of data collection is refreshing. I love how you applied Emily's timeless words to your current situation.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on the word "dazzle"--there are so many others we can used to describe the truth about our students, but linking this poem and the word "dazzled" suggests surprise and delight (not dismay and frustration, which is another way to feel sometimes, looking at the data).
ReplyDeleteThe truth must dazzle, and not confuddle. :)
ReplyDeleteI love your much more poetic (naturally) approach to data than my very formulaic "triangulate the data." I'll keep you & Emily in mind next week as teachers and I sit down to be dazzled!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things that can't be measured in data! This week as I was swamped in digital data I looked for all the measures that aren't measurable. That made my week much better.
ReplyDeleteCool connection, Mary Lee!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite poems - thanks for sharing it, Mary Lee, and - good luck with the data analysis adventures?!
ReplyDeleteooooooh, such a sharp observation of what is going on all around us. What a perfect way to describe. Love this poem even more now!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, I like the way you wove the truth with data analysis. I rather late to the PF party because of my return from our family trip. While at the Canyon, I thought of your Wonders of the World poetry initiative that some of us were involved with.
ReplyDeleteEmily Dickinson and student assessments. Mind blown.
ReplyDeleteWho knew Emily's wisdom could be applied to our modern educational system. Love where the poetry takes you, Mary Lee (and us! =)
ReplyDelete