Of Interest

I love the last line of Elizabeth Alexander’s poem Ars Poetica #100: I Believe:

“…are we not of interest to each other?”

• when we disagree?

• when we’re pissed off?

• when we’re disappointed?

• when we’re unfair?

• when we don’t understand?

• when we’re frightened?

• when we’re defensive?

• when we act out?

• when we’re vulnerable?

• when we’re resistant?

That question — “…are we not of interest to each other?” — hit me as foundationally relevant to the enterprise of education. If we are not of interest to each other, then why do we bother? If we are of interest to each other, how are we showing it? What do we consider “of interest”? What might be more fruitful to pay attention to?

And what about us? Are we not of interest to ourselves? How are we showing that?