There is a misconception in today's culture that education is about procuring a job and a profitable life style. Education is, in the author's view, about helping the child to develop into a whole person who reaches their potential, integrated and self-actualized, through being drawn forth. The goal is not to fill the child with ideas and facts, but to light their flame of desire to learn and spiritually grow through their entire life. In essence education should be teaching a child how to think and explore rather than teaching them what to think. In this way a child develops an inner sense of morality and ethics. Their spirituality is allowed to grow as their mind learns to reconcile the tensions and conflicts they experience. Through education of the whole, the growing persona learns to seek and explore the nature of reality and fearlessly pursue truth and compassion. Until the 20th Century education was used to help upper-class individuals become capable leaders and governors. As the U.S. and most of the western world became industrial, education turned to preparing youth to work in factories and industry. The more technical we became the less emphasis was put on the development of the whole child. There is a tension caused by conflicting ideas in our lives that is the driving force of human behavior and culture. Children face these same conflicts. The child's conflict is between their growing image of themselves, the environment, and others in their world. In the midst of conflict the child strives to find meaning by making sense out of what appears to be nonsense. Trying to find order and meaning out of the chaos around them they often feel entrapped in the apparent turmoil. At this point education should step-in to aid in reconciling the challenges and motivate the student to explore the creative acts. Through the method presented the student learns to be self-directed, involved in their relationship to society and nature.
About the Author: George Campbell Hage, holds two earned doctorates, one in education and the other in theology. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor in North Carolina. He is also the Associate Pastor of St. Seraphim of Sarov Eastern Orthodox Church in High Point, North Carolina. The writer has been practicing counseling and therapy of the student age population covering ranges from grades 8 through the sophomore year in college. Therapy has involved clients of many ethnic and cultural backgrounds, especially African American, Caucasian American and Hispanic American. Prior to counseling and even while counseling, the writer as a licensed teacher in North Carolina taught social studies and music in high school and has taught as an adjunct in the community college. Subject areas taught included philosophy, sociology, government and history. The writer began his college career as a piano and music major in the context of education. He has also studied visual art through his education career. The writer teaches piano and theory to interested students one-on-one and gives music recitals as a pianist in the community. In graduate school, the writer studied curriculum, educational history, anthropology (personality and culture), and philosophy. About the Editor Suzanne Deakins has taught at St Johns' University, Pace, City College of NY, as well as Shundee Technical University in China. After her graduate work she traveled through out the USA lecturing and teaching to business and private clients. Her work has been based on ontology and the whole person, mind, body, and spirit. She spent 20 years in NYC where her clients included many fortune 100 and 500 companies where she lectured and produced study topics in communication and management. Her counseling practiced is based on ontology and the integration (reconciliation of ) body, mind, and spirit. Suzanne was first published in 1982 with a business book called The Exceptional Manager. A year later she penned Back to the Basics Management, The Lost Craft of Leadership. This book is in 8 languages, audio books and much more. The author of 7 books, her focus has been on writing and teaching in a more spiritual mode. She is mother to six children (two sets of twin boys) and 4 grandchildren. She resides in Oregon where she writes, teaches, and enjoys life.