1. EDUCATION BASED ON SPIRITUALITY
PURPEL
HUEBNER
LERNER

2. THAT WHICH TRANSCENDS THE KNOWN
THE SPIRIT IS:
WHAT HAPPENS TO US AS THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SELF GIVE WAY
THAT WHICH TRANSCENDS THE KNOWN
THE “MORENESS THAT TAKES US BY SURPRISE WHEN WE ARE AT THE EDGE OF OUR KNOWING

3. MAJOR GOALS HELP STUDENTS ALONG ON THEIR ULTIMATE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL
DEVELOP “AWE AND WONDER” IN STUDENTS
FULFILL OUR HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY TO WORK FOR THE ELIMINATION OF HUMAN SUFFERING

4. MAJOR PREMESES/THEORIES DRIVING EDUCATIONAL DECISIONS

5. THIS IS THE UNIVERSE

6. THIS IS THE UNIVERSE
THIS IS US

7. EDUCATION: WAY OF ATTENDING TO AND CARING FOR THE JOURNEY OF THE SELF
WE ARE NEVER COMPLETE UNTIL DEATH
EDUCATION: WAY OF ATTENDING TO AND CARING FOR THE JOURNEY OF THE SELF

8. GOAL OF EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE:
Marketability

9. Marketability Joy of learning GOAL OF EDUCATION SHOULD NOT BE:
SHOULD FOCUS ON:
Marketability
Joy of learning

10. EDUCATIONAL AIMS SHOULD
CONNECT KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING WITH DEEPER COMMITMENT TO PURSUE LARGER GOOD
BE GROUNDED IN “AGAPE”
CREATE DIALOGUE THAT FOCUSES ON CONSIDERATION FOR THE END OF UNNECESSARY HUMAN SUFFERING

11. CONTENT

12. CONTENT QUESTIONS Not how people learn and develop
Not what it will mean to students
Not how do we motivate/what threats should we use
What gets in way of journey of self?
How will students be different because of it?
How can we support them giving up old self to become new?

13. SHOULD BE THE “OTHER” AND RELATIONSHIP WITH IT

14. “OTHER” Human Beings
Because they are different, they are possibilities for me
Can choose to alter self and future
Sources of criticism and new possibility
Conversation with “other” provides opportunity to refine how students see the world and to participate in how “others” see theirs

15. Nature as “OTHER”
Cannot view nature as resource and commodity

16. Knowledge we seek to teach:
Cultivates ability to love and be loved
Deeply connected w/presence of Spirit
Creates understanding of how world needs to be healed and best way to do so
**ALL LINKED TO INTIMACY AND ACTION

17. WHAT ABOUT CONTENT AREAS?

18. K-6: Significant time in natural settings
Need combination of free play and instruction on seeing grandeur of universe
Science taught through experimentation with nature
In class time: much free time to wander rooms providing opportunity for wide range of activities

19. SCIENCE Much use of experimental method: trying different approaches
assessing outcomes
making decisions based on evidence
proceeding based on those decisions

20. HISTORY AND LITERATURE
Every person’s story is worth telling
Must represent those who have been marginalized

21. ARTS
Must show art and teach art that displays desire for social justice

22. OTHER CONTENT ITEMS
Teach about religion and spiritual traditions from advocates, not from those who are neutral
Teach tensions and stresses of parents
Teach that everything in this world can be transformed, and students are the agents for that change (lovingly critical attitude)

23. BECOME A SPIRITUAL BEING