Holistic Education: Perspectives from Islamic Schools and Their Leaders

• In Event: 14.045 - Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: 14.045-14 - Holistic Education: Diversity and Justice

Abstract

The traditional Islamic philosophy of education aims to nurture the whole child: mind, body, heart, and soul. The Islamic holistic educational philosophy is supported by many prominent Muslim education thinkers and philosophers like Avicenna (Al-Naqib, 1993), Al-Ghazali (Nofal, 1993), and Al-Farabi (Al-Talbi, 1993). The purpose of this study was to analyze the mission statements of a sample of the 280 Islamic schools from across the United States with the aim of analyzing the level to which these schools adhere to the holistic educational philosophy. A small sample of principals from these schools were interviewed to present their attitudes and views towards holistic education.

Authors

• Isra Brifkani, Middle Tennessee State University

• Rick Vanosdall, Middle Tennessee State University