The Art of Kite Flying
by David Benson, Educational Technology Consultant
April is upon us and April is a great month -- I believe this for many reasons but primarily because April is when I am deep into my favorite hobby: kite-flying.
Now I realize I can fly a kite any time of the year but when the winds of January, February and March are blowing (with the exception of this year) they're usually driving a blizzard ahead of them and March tends to live up to its reputation. High winds make for difficult kite control. So I like April.
As I sat trying to write an article for this month's newsletter I found myself pausing to peruse the latest kite catalog to come to me in the mail. There really are some great kites these days, marvelous colors, tremendous designs and fantastic high flyers. As I sat thumbing through the catalog I began to see a relationship between flying a kite and teaching a group of students (hey, I fly kites for a hobby -- I can find a relationship between a kite and anything in life).
When I go to put a kite up into the sky, I look for the most favorable site with the best winds for flying the kite I've chosen for the particular day. I launch my kite, and through a series of gentle tugs, twists and maneuvers, I guide my kite through the turbulent and bumpy surface winds to gain enough altitude until it reaches the steady winds aloft, and there the kite flies steady and strong on its own. I love to watch a kite as it soars and dances and dives and ripples across the sky with the tail twisting and flashing behind.
And that's when the relationship hit me.
We, the students, are the kites and our teachers are the kite flyers. I also love to watch students soar, guided by the gentle tugs, twists and maneuvers of a teacher.
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