Teaching, like any truly human activity, emerges from one’s inwardness, for better or worse. As I teach, I project the condition of my soul onto my students, my subject, and our way of being together. The entanglements I experience in the classroom are often no more or less than the convolutions of my inner life. Viewed from this angle, teaching holds a mirror to the soul. If I am willing to look into the mirror, and not run from what I see, I have a chance to gain self-knowledge–and knowing myself is as crucial to good teaching as knowing my students and my subject.
from The Courage to Teach: A Guide for Reflection and Renewal
7 responses so far ↓
Paul
A man after my own heart. I value Parker J Palmer’s work. He was first introduced to me by my Master’s supervisor. I have considered beginning a PhD using his work as a starting point.
Palmer was a friend of Henri Nouwen. Palmer’s work can be seen a secular presentation of Nouwen religious thought.
Thus Palmer provides a bridge between my teaching work and my spiritual journey.
I think that this quote is spot on. I think that the classes that I teach are a mirror of my inner life. Confronting but true.
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This is exactly why when our state legislature mandates the “state tests” for quantitative data, I cringe. Qualitative data is the teacher presenting their passion, energy, enthusiasm and inner sole for a topic. These four items can not be any data number, but they are the sole and passion of how a student learns and how a teacher teaches. How does one measure changing hearts, minds, and soles?
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I love Palmer’s book because it does ring so true. We do indeed teach who we are. Funny you should post this today. I just finished “publishing” my own own post which also referenced The Courage to Teach. Synchronicity or what?
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????? I kind of don’t fully get what you are saying in this post. I think it means that when you teach you put your heart and soul into what you are teaching.
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Mr. Bogush,
I am glad you teach, without you as my social studies teacher I would be stuck in some boring old average social studies class. You also give our class a fun and educational way to learn, so overall, thank you for being my teacher.
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hi Mr.Bogush nice post although i don’t know what its saying.anyway i tagged you fro the 10 things you want to do before you die.so write a post telling us about it.!!!!!
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From what I got from this.. you use your teaching strategies from your soul and not from the book.. and you feel that knowing yourself is just as important to you as knowing us, your students and the subject you teach us. Also, the way someone teaches comes from within.. for better or for worse depending on your experiences and the “conditions of your soul”?
I’m not quite sure if that was even remotely correct, but I’d love to know if I am…
And I love the way you teach us and if most teachers tought the way you teach school would be more entertaining and easier to learn in… I wouldn’t mind going to school if every class was like yours, although we would take if for granted if every class was like yours because we wouldn’t know what luck we have in your room… anyway, read my Random Acts Of Kindness post again… I took your advice and I tagged you!
http://josea09.edublogs.org/2009/02/09/random-acts-of-kindness/
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