Education's Highest Aim: Teaching and Learning through a Spirituality of Communion
'Here is an educational philosophy, a pedagogy and a practice grounded in the vision of unity, in a spirituality of communion. It is one that invites students, faculty, staff, administrators and families to work cooperatively for the development of the whole person into his and her best self in service to the common good. This is an educational aim of the highest order worth working together to achieve.' --Anthony J. Cernera, Ph.D., President of the International Federation of Catholic UniversitiesAt the heart of the authors application ... is the principle that the modern tensions of educational practice, including fragmentation, isolation, and secularism, can be reimagined through a spirituality of communion among administrators, students, teachers, counselors, coaches, and maintenance staff. The authors contend that Lubich s description of existential identity, where one achieves unity with another through a process of emptying oneself to be fully present with the other, can provide the harmony that is missing from a society in which individual competence is the norm. Many of the stories and discussions could be ideal for an approach to the classroom and faculty meetings, and to learning how to walk alongside one another wherever conflict arises. In both complexity and simplicity, the book is a pleasant reminder of Jesus s summary of the law by first loving God and then loving one another. Christian administrators, teachers, and parents will find this book of particular interest. --Karen Buchanan and Ken McChesney from their review in Journal of Education and Christian Belief 16, no. 1 , Spring 2012