This collection of essays, is based on lectures given by Jorgen Smit, the Leader of the Pedagogical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum, Switzerland, between 1984-1988. Smit was concerned as much with the inner schooling of the teacher as with teacher training. The essays address the inner path of the human becoming who…

This narrative details the responses of children and adults to a story about young children welcoming a boy with severe disabilities into their own story telling and re-enactment. Linking the act of story telling to the practice of the Hasidim, who would teach people to think about goodness by telling stories about holy men performing good works,…

The purpose of this book is to give educators new organizing principles that will lead out from the present day mechanistic-reductionist viewpoint toward a more holistic perspective, one that fosters love and peace. The Foreword, titled "Education and Evolution," deals with an anthropological perspective, the end of the Cenozoic period, and ways…

The author of this book takes up all the main issues confronting those who work with young children in a wide variety of settings. The explanations, case studies and suggestions provide an invaluable resource for all of those who aim to build solid foundations right from the start. This book is organized into the following chapters: (1) Confident…

This book takes the form of a story, in which a beleaguered executive searches for passion and purpose in work and life. It maintains that the heart of true leadership can only be found in the heart of a leader. Using an ecumenical approach, the book argues that the workplace needs a language of moral discourse that permits discussions of ethical…

Recognizing that aggression in children can lead to severe problems at home, in school, and in the community, this book is a guide to help parents address the negative child behaviors of whining, teasing others, throwing temper tantrums, fighting, or intentionally hurting others. Part 1 of the book, focusing on recognizing aggression, defines…

The purpose of this book is to explore what happens--and what can happen--in the higher education, and even secondary school, classroom when course content meets or collides with students' religious beliefs. It also considers the impact on learning in an environment where students may feel threatened, angry, misunderstood, or in which they feel…

This book contains 19 personal essays on the role that fathers play in fostering connections between their children and the natural world. Written from the perspective of adult children or of fathers themselves, most essays show how outdoor activities, particularly hunting and fishing, are replicated across the generations and serve to foster…

Noting the difficulties American adolescents have in finding answers to profound spiritual questions, this book examines how educators and parents of diverse backgrounds can unite to find ways to nourish spiritual development or invite soul into schools without violating the separation of church and state or deeply held beliefs of families and…

Based on the Girls and Boys Town's "Common Sense Parenting" approach, this book presents an approach to foster parenting focusing on building relationships with children, teaching them skills, and empowering them by teaching self-discipline and self-control. Research-based solutions are provided for common concerns, including building a…

Concentrating on the development of the brain, this book discusses the impact of children's social environment on their potential for psychological and personal growth. The introduction identifies many child and adolescent behavior patterns that have changed within the last 20 years and are symptomatic of larger societal problems, which include:…

Author Jing Lin contends that there is a great need for educators to reconceptualize education in the 21st century. Here, she discusses the danger of global wars, environmental breakdown, moral vacuum and nihilism in society, and the problems in current debates on school reform. This book calls for a school that facilitates the formation of a…

As girls face the serious emotional, physical, and developmental challenges during youth and adolescence, external support from a nonparental female role model is an essential, and too frequently ignored, requirement for healthy development. This book presents a process for mentoring young women and girls by providing guidance in five areas:…

Private and personal literacy practices of reading and writing, which have typically been regarded as less important than the more visible and public literacies used by men, are important in the lives of women because they aid the development and empowerment of the self. Qualitative interviews were conducted with six women of diverse socioeconomic…

This edited collection addresses the growing need for ideas and methods conducive to holistic educational practices and aims to encourage more personal growth in students too often distracted by the background noise of war, violence, racism, and environmental deterioration. The contributors are working teachers and professors who have integrated a…