Teaching From the Thinking Heart: The Practice of Holistic Education

• In Event: 35.055 - Caring for Mind, Body, and Heart: Holistic Practices in the Classroom

Abstract

Public education with its emphasis on high stakes testing and competition has a grim, Darwinian feel. In this environment one can ask the question: is it possible to teach holistically? This paper demonstrates how teachers can engage the whole student, i.e., the head, hands and the heart; these teachers work from the “thinking heart”, a place of wisdom and compassion. The presentation is a summary and analysis of papers by 22 teachers who have written about their experience of teaching holistically in public schools. It focuses on four themes: the whole student, inner authority, authenticity and community.

Authors

• John Miller, University of Toronto

• Michele Irwin, University of Toronto

• Kelli Lynn Nigh, University of Toronto - OISE