When we were at the Met last weekend, the conversation inevitably turned to the classic book of our childhood’s, From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

The fifth grade at our school goes to the Met twice a year with our art teacher. As we discussed The Mixed Up Files, she told us that, the classes used to read the book before going on their trips but that sadly, they no longer have time. All the time, now being devoted to things like test preparation.

Reading the book earlier this week, I couldn’t help but feel the irony of the comments above as I read the passage below…

“No,” I answered, “I don’t agree with that. I think you should learn, of course, and some days you must learn a great deal. But you should also have days when you allow what is already in you to swell up inside of you until it touches everything. And you can feel it inside of you. If you never take the time out to let that happen, than you just accumulate facts, and they begin to rattle around inside of you. You can make noise with them, but never really feel anything with them. It’s hollow.”

                                   -E.L. Konigsburg