Expanding Perspectives

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

BY Paula Jorde Bloom, Michael W. Louis Chair | March 1, 2006

This document may be printed, photocopied, and disseminated freely with attribution. All content is the property of the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership.

You’ve probably heard the tale of the six blind men standing around an elephant, each feeling a different part of the animal. One touched the trunk and announced that an elephant was like a snake. Another took hold of the tusk and compared an elephant to a spear. Another felt the leg, declaring that an elephant was like a tree trunk. Still another placed his hands on the side of the elephant and exclaimed that the beast was like a wall. The fifth, holding the elephant’s ear, compared the animal to a large fan. The last blink man took hold of the tail and announced that an elephant was like a rope. … Download this resource to read the rest of this story.


This resource is part of our archived Director’s Link newsletter series.

An individual in a denim jacket and brown pants stands smiling in a crowded conference room, surrounded by seated people.
By Lailah Malone March 25, 2026
Paula Jorde Bloom's legacy brought Shadeen Holmes to Leadership Connections : Shadeen received the 2025 Paula Jorde Bloom scholarship for aspiring and emerging leaders in early childhood education and care.
Show More