State education, spirituality, and culture: teachers' personal and professional stories of negotiating the nexus
Citation
Export citationFraser, D. (2007). State education, spirituality, and culture: teachers' personal and professional stories of negotiating the nexus. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 12(3), 289-305.
Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4069
Abstract
This paper explores the implications of spirituality for teaching and learning in multicultural state schools through the examination of several teachers' personal and professional narratives. In attempting to capture the intangible, these narratives provide insights into the possibilities, both conscious and unconscious, of creating a climate that fosters spirituality. The classroom stories of a spiritual nature that the teachers recounted (while many and varied) revealed some common themes that related to the climate of the classrooms. Sensitive issues of faith, beliefs, and culture emerged and the teachers' narratives illustrate ways in which inclusive communities can be fostered. The paper provides examples of cultural and social inclusiveness with a focus on two major themes: the relationship between life and death, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Date
2007Type
Publisher
Routledge
Collections
- Education Papers [1422]