Spirituality in Education

"What transforms education, is a transformed being in the world." Parker Palmer

The spiritual poverty of much contemporary education provides few opportunities for today's youth to quench their deep thirst for meaning and wholeness. Misguided, or unconscious attempts by students to attain some sense of fulfillment often result in varying degrees of addictive behavior toward activities, substances or relationships - all of which make teaching and learning difficult, if not impossible.Compulsive or reckless activity, substance abuse, and empty sexuality can result from students trying to escape the pain of an inner emptiness. In the classroom this can manifest as lack of interest, lack of self-worth, lack of compassion, lack of self-discipline and lack of spirit.


A more 'soulful' education seeks to open the mind, warm the heart and awaken the spirit of each student. It would provide opportunities for students to be creative, contemplative, and imaginative. It allows time to tell old and new stories of heroes, ideals and transformation. It encourage students to go deep into themselves, into nature, and into human affairs. It values service to others and the planet.
A spiritualized curriculum values physical, mental and spiritual knowledge and skills. It presents knowledge within cultural and temporal contexts, rather than as facts to be memorized or dogma to be followed. It is integrative across all disciplines emphasizing inter-relationship and inter-connectedness. It challenges students to find their own place in space and time, and to reach for the highest aspirations of the human spirit.

Books on Spirituality and
Spirituality in Education

Zohar, D & Marshall, I. (2000). SQ: Connecting With Our Spiritual Intelligence. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing	Walsh, Roger. (1999)  Essential Spirituality.  New  York: John Wiley	Sloan, D. (1983) Insight-Imagination. Westport, CT:Greenwood Press
Sinetar, M. (2000) Spiritual Intelligence: What We Can Learn From The Early Awakening Child. New York: Orbis	Palmer, Parker (1983)  To Know As We Are Known: A Spirituality of Education.  New York:Harper Collins.	Moffet, J. (1994). The Universal Schoolhouse: Spiritual Awakening Through Education, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers
Moore, T.  (1994) Care of the Soul: A Guide for Cultivating Depth and Sacredness in Everyday Life. New York: HarperPerennial	Moore, T.  (2000) Original Self: Living with Paradox and Originality. New York: HarperCollins	Miller, J.P. (1994)  The Contemplative Practitioner.  Toronto: OISE Press
Kessler, R. (2000) The Soul of Education: Helping Students Find Connection, Compassion, and Character at School Virginia: ASCD	Glazer, Steven. (1999)  The Heart of Learning: Spirituality in Education.  New York: Tarcher/Putnam	Brussat, F. and M.  (1996)  Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life. New York: Scribner
Pearmain, E.D. (Ed.) (1998) Doorways to the Soul: 52 Wisdom Tales From Around The World Ohio: The Pilgrim Press	Grof, C. (1993). The Thirst for Wholeness: Attachment, Addiction and the Spiritual Path. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco.	Tacey, David (2000) Re-Enchantment: The New Australian Spirituality. Sydney:HarperCollins
Palmer, Parker (1998)  The Courage to Teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher's life.  San Francisco: Jossey Bass.	Miller, John P. (2000) Education and the Soul: Toward a Spiritual Curriculum. State University of New York Press	Nakagawa, Yoshiharu (2000)  Education for Awakening An Eastern Approach to Holistic Education Foundation for educational Renewal, Brandon, VT
Nava, Ramon Gallegos. Holistic Education: Pedagogy of Universal Love Great Ideas in Education Box 328, Brandon, VT (Translated by Madeline Newman Rios and Gregory S. Miller)	Miller, J &  Nakagawa, Y (eds)  Nurturing Our Wholeness Perspectives on Spirituality in Education Psychology Press/Holistic Education Press Box 328, Brandon, VT

The preceding information and article come from the Holistic Education Network. HEN is a valuable resource for spiritual practices in education. Please visit their website http://www.hent.org/spiritual.htm for more information.