Hello again,
This is the second try at launching a blog for Black Elementary. I hope to publicize it more and get some responses.
From the time we pick up crayons, we are trained to “stay in the lines”, that is to conform to the society around us. For me, those lines represent a comfort zone and often I am not willing to go outside the lines, or in today’s vernacular, “to think outside the box.” Using a blog for everyone to see is outside of my lines, but I would like to do better.
I recently heard a sermon on this topic. The theme was the same, but expressed slightly differently. It was called “Driving outside the lines”. We all know that lines on the road are put there for our safety. If we venture across the line unexpectedly or someone crosses their line, it can be disastrous. In that light, being outside the lines is risky. However, we can extend the metaphor to say that being outside the lines can lead to great adventures and accomplishments. Through the ages, this has been true of all great philosophers, inventors, authors, and anyone else who is successful at what they do. They take risks; they “think outside the box”; they color outside the lines.
We’ve heard so much lately about the impact of technology on education, but so far, my generation is slow to get past the lines into the adventure. So take some baby steps and get outside the lines once in a while.
