Maurice Sendak’s Thoughts on Childhood Might Make You a Better Teacher and Parent

The author of Where the Wild Things Are talks about childhood–it’s real, raw, and truer than I’ve ever admitted.  As a father, I found myself reflecting on all the things I do to try to prevent the “monsters” of life from harming my son.  Sendak’s words challenge me to reconsider whether that’s possible, and whether it should even be desirable to do so.  As an educator, I think about the ways students sometimes want learning to be neat and tidy, clear and checkable.  I wonder what Sendak would say to that.