Fill a Pail or Light a Fire?

This week, our quote in my "Food for Thought" finale comes from William Butler Yeats.  He says, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire".  That is certainly thought provoking.  As we examine our Common Core standards, we see that as teachers we are being asked to give students multiple opportunities to interact with their own learning.  Kids need to become actively involved, make personal connections, and experience new things.  However, is that really enough?  Can we light a fire and leave it untended?  Perhaps a child needs a pail full of water to douse the edges of flame when it begins to spread haphazardly?  WOW!  This could certainly be an interesting discussion.  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  Is it one or the other, or can the two ideas live in harmony?