Em Matchette

There's a half of the Icarus myth no one tells. Daedalus gave his son Icarus two warnings: 1. Don't fly too close to the sun; the wax will melt. 2. Don't fly too close to the sea; the sea spray will weigh down the feathers. Everyone remembers the first. Hubris. Overreach. We tell that story all the time. The second warning has been completely forgotten. And I think it's the one we actually need. When I look at students now, I don't see kids flying too close to the sun. I see kids being held too close to the sea. An education system that doesn't challenge them. That keeps them low, keeps them comfortable, keeps them "safe". And slowly, without anyone noticing, the weight builds on their wings. The sea doesn't burn. That's what makes it so dangerous.