The Spiritual and Educational Vision of Parker J. Palmer: The Birthright Gift of Self
Ebook
Have you wrestled with the complexity of classroom teaching? Have you often wondered what might be impeding your performance in the classroom? Parker J. Palmer's exploration into teaching and the problems that teachers encounter offers practical theories that address the questions one has or perhaps might not have thought to ask. This book is about Parker J. Palmer's theories of education interwoven with his spiritual vision of education. Undergirding the spiritual aspect of his vision is his theory about the significance of the teacher's authentic self. Within the narrative is the personal story of one teacher's daunting experiences as she ventured into the field of teaching after a career in the corporate world. Meeting Palmer while in graduate school, and closely studying his work, served to modify her perspective about teaching for the better. This ultimately changed her as a teacher in ways that could not have occurred had she not had this encounter. This book aims to inform as well as to help transform the experience of teaching for both teacher and student.
“If I could, I would give a copy of The Spiritual and Educational Vision of Parker J. Palmer to every public school, Catholic school, Sunday School teacher, and every faith community director of religious education. This is a book for all educators, from novices to the most experienced. Elena Soto invites us into a conversation with Palmer’s vision that guides us to develop a deeper understanding of our true selves as teachers and persons.”
—Harold D. (Bud) Horell, associate professor of religious education, Fordham University
“Through personal interviews and a variety of sources, Elena Soto provides a comprehensive analysis of Parker J. Palmer’s life and work. Professionals in any field can benefit from the insights offered in this book, not just educators. It provides guidance on how to bridge the gap between our inner and outer worlds, leading to positive social change through nonviolent means, and achieving wholeness and unity in our lives. This book is a must-read, regardless of your profession.”
—Luz Marina Díaz, director of religious education, Church of St. Francis Xavier
“Elena Soto’s The Spiritual and Educational Vision of Parker J. Palmer offers the first substantive spiritual and intellectual biography of one of the most significant contemporary educational thinkers. Artfully weaving Palmer’s own spiritual journey as a teacher alongside the development of his theories about the spirituality of teaching, Soto—a teacher herself—illustrates how Palmer’s spiritual and educational vision can form and transform the heart of the teacher. It is an inspiring read for any educator.”
—Dennis Gunn, assistant professor of education, Iona University
“I learned so much reading Elena Soto’s book about Parker J. Palmer, an extraordinary public intellectual, and his thinking on living an authentic ‘undivided life’—a life directed toward grasping the fact that education itself is a religious activity, enriching and ennobling both students and teachers.”
—E. Doyle McCarthy, professor emerita of sociology and American studies, Fordham University
- Title: The Spiritual and Educational Vision of Parker J. Palmer: The Birthright Gift of Self
- Author: Elena Soto
- Publisher: Pickwick Publications
- Print Publication Date: 2024
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBNs: 9781666776980, 9781666776973, 1666776971, 9781666776966, 1666776963, 166677698X
- Resource ID: LLS:9781666776980
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-02-15T21:42:21Z
Elena Soto is chair of the Religious Studies Department at Fordham Preparatory School in New York.