The school year has just started, and I’ve begun to meet students who seem to have everything going for them and other students who seem to have the deck stacked against them. At this point, I don’t know how any of this will unfold, but I can predict that I’ll witness both triumph and despair. As Parker Palmer points out, it takes courage to keep one’s heart open. Palmer is unique in his focus on the “inner landscape” of a teacher’s life. His approach requires weaving together intellect, emotion, and spirit. It’s a balancing act that requires attention and awareness.
Palmer, Parker. The Courage to Teach. Wiley & Sons, 2007, p. 12.