Schools with Spirit: Nurturing the Inner Lives of Children and Teachers

In Schools with Spirit, fourteen respected educators ask whether schools can nurture the inner life of students without violating the beliefs of families or the separation of church and state. For anyone who is concerned for the inner lives of our children, Schools with Spirit inspires, through deeply moving stories, about everything from the first tentative steps toward fostering emotional growth in our children to the bold movement of welcoming the spiritual dimension in our schools. "These essays show what wonderful transformations can happen when teachers are able to nurture spiritual and emotional understanding as part of the lessons they teach." -Marian Wright Edelman, president, Children's Defense Fund "This important book on teaching spirituality in American schools may serve as a significant resource for school teachers and administrators who want to help their students cultivate a sense of spirituality. . . . Teachers who struggle to reach this difficult equilibrium will welcome the wealth that these essays have to offer." - Samuel T. Huang, Library Journal "This book consistently encourages teachers to be courageous and deeply engaged in teaching students, bringing their entire selves, including their spirituality, to their teaching." - Vanessa Bush, Booklist "[Schools with Spirit] illustrates the importance of meeting the emotional and spiritual-as well as intellectual-needs of students and teachers." -Mothering "In times focused upon high-stakes assessment and achievement of standards, it is critical to know that educators are equally concerned with the emotional, social, and ethical growth of students. This book is an excellent resource for all those who daily help students form caring relationships, make positive connections, and understand the strength of the human spirit." -Vincent L. Ferrandino, executive director, National Association of Elementary School Principals Linda Lantieri, coauthor of Waging Peace in Our Schools, is the founding director of the internationally recognized Resolving Conflict Creatively Program of Educators for Social Responsibility, and the director of the New York office of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). She lives in New York City. Linda Lantieri, coauthor of Waging Peace in Our Schools, is the founding director of the internationally recognized Resolving Conflict Creatively Program of Educators for Social Responsibility, and the director of the New York office of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL). She lives in New York City.