Courage to Teach Guide for Reflection and Renewal (eBook)

PARKER J. PALMER is a highly respected writer, lecturer, teacher, and activist. He is founder and Senior Partner of the Center for Courage & Renewal, which offers long-term retreat programs for people in the serving professions, including teachers, administrators, physicians, philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, and clergy. Author of nine books, including Let Your Life Speak, A Hidden Wholeness, Healing the Heart of Democracy, and The Heart of Higher Education, Palmer has been recognized with thirteen honorary doctorates and a number of national awards. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley and lives in Madison, Wisconsin. MEGAN SCRIBNER is a freelance writer and editor with over 30 years of experience working with a wide range of authors and organizations. She is co-editor with Sam Intrator of the books Teaching with Heart, Teaching with Fire, and Leading from Within, and lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.

FOREWORD vii

INTRODUCTION 1

PART ONE Guidelines for Individual and Group Study 7

Individual Study 8

Group Study 9

Membership and Leadership

Physical Space

Intellectual Space

Emotional Space

Spiritual Space

Six Paradoxes of Space

The Clearness Committee

Touchstones for Creating Safe Spaces

A Word of Encouragement 19

PART TWO Questions and Activities for Each Chapter 21

I The Heart of a Teacher: Identity and Integrity in Teaching 25

II A Culture of Fear: Education and the Disconnected Life 35

III The Hidden Wholeness: Paradox in Teaching and Learning 45

IV Knowing in Community: Joined by the Grace of Great Things 51

V Teaching in Community: A Subject-Centered Education 59

VI Learning in Community: The Conversation of Colleagues 65

VII Divided No More: Teaching from a Heart of Hope 73

Afterword to the Tenth Anniversary Edition: The New Professional: Education for Transformation 81

APPENDIXES 93

A Suggestions for Organizing a Courage to Teach

Book Discussion Group, by David Leo-Nyquist 95

Sample Invitation Letter for a Courage to Teach

Book Discussion Group

Sample Follow-Up Letter for a Courage to Teach

Book Discussion Group

B The Heart of a Teacher: Identity and Integrity in Teaching (an essay from Change magazine that summarizes The Courage to Teach) 101

C The Clearness Committee: A Communal Approach to Discernment 123

D About the Center for Courage & Renewal 143

E The Courage to Teach: A Retreat Program for Personal Renewal and Institutional Transformation, by Parker J. Palmer 147

F Resources for Courage to Teach Discussion Groups 157

THE AUTHORS 171

ABOUT THE COMPANION MEDIA 175