It is within the prepared environment of the adolescent learning community that the adult comes into full connection with Montessori's universal picture of optimal development. Adolescents' search for meaning enables adults to come to a clearer understanding of the human condition. Thus, teachers of adolescents must endeavor to model the ideals of…

Nineteen practitioners, academics, and students of outdoor and adventure education explored the role of adventure education in promoting spiritual development at a think tank held in 1999 in Cumbria (England). Discussions on the nature of spirituality, outdoor education elements conducive to spiritual development, and ethical considerations…

In this article, the author suggests it is possible for older persons to renew community connections with storytelling and, through this means, to ask some compelling questions. The answers to these questions provide a sense of meaning and purpose for a life well lived.

The author describes gerotranscendence as a process that occurs when older adults shift from a rational focus on the present-day, material world to a more universal and transcendent perspective. Accompanying this shift is a desire to move toward the end of life with a sense of integrity and acceptance of one's choices. By gaining an understanding…

How can spiritual development be fostered in a manner that respects students from backgrounds of various faith traditions? The author describes a program that nurtures holistic growth in a school serving troubled students. Youth participate in a "ministry arts" program combining creative visual arts, music, adventure education, service projects,…

The current movement in spirituality is extending into both K-12 and higher education. There is discussion at both levels of the need for the spiritual (not religion) to be a recognized part of the curriculum, to enable individuals to find personal meaning in the curriculum. This essay explores two themes--first, the importance of educators having…

The role of spirituality and religiosity in neglect etiology is unknown. Further, the effects of these factors may be influenced by existing familial substance use disorder (SUD). This study examined the role of spirituality as conceptualized multidimensionally, in parental child neglect. A sample of 100 (40 SUD; 60 Control) intact families were…

In this article, the authors discuss Karen Cross's critique on LiFE (Living in Faith Everyday) curriculum. Cross's critique focuses on the following issues: (1) racism; (2) sexism; (3) classism; (4) suburbanism; (5) Reformed theology; and (6) method. To respond to Cross's critique is an invitation for everyone to examine not only one particular…

This paper considers whether there are aspects of spiritual pedagogy specific to the education of children who are sick and asks how these concerns are to be addressed. The context of the enquiry is England and Wales where the promotion of the spiritual development of children is a legislative requirement. The focus of the study is on sick…

This paper explores the potential for using narrative to foster children's spiritual growth. It discusses the nature, origin and appeal of story and presents theoretical perspectives which form a rationale for using non-sectarian children's, adolescent and young adult literature for spiritual development. Such books avoid church-and-state…

This article reports on Australian research investigating the meaning and function of prayer for children. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 60 primary school participants selected from six different schools in Melbourne, reflecting some of the diverse philosophical and religious traditions found in the Australian society. The three…

This paper proposes the integrative theory of peace (ITP) and briefly outlines the education for peace curriculum (EFP) developed on the basis of this theory. ITP is based on the concept that peace is, at once, a psychological, social, political, ethical and spiritual state with its expressions in intrapersonal, interpersonal, intergroup,…

This article examines Scottish Catholic school managers' perceptions of continuing professional development (CPD), and in particular their views of CPD for the purpose of faith formation of Catholic teachers in their schools. Set against the background of the major CPD reforms that are currently taking place in Scotland as a result of the McCrone…

This study examined the mediating role of self-perceived health between perceived spirituality, religiosity, and life satisfaction among a stratified, random sample of college students, while controlling for gender. Although both models displayed excellent fit criteria, the perceived spirituality and life satisfaction model was fully mediated by…

In this article, the authors describe the way that leadership research has dramatically changed over the last 30 years and how leadership development programs have not kept pace with some of the important changes. In particular, the authors propose that five revolutionary leadership concepts have been overlooked and should be included in future…