Customer Reviews

Irrigating Deserts: C.s. Lewis on Education

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In Irrigating Deserts, Joel D. Heck of Concordia University at Austin has produced a wonderful book on the educational philosophy of the noted educator and writer C. S. Lewis. The title of the book is derived from the following quote by Lewis, where he writes in The Abolition of Man: "The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles but to irrigate deserts." This is an excellent book that provides a focused view on an important aspect of Lewis's life. Dr. Heck has made a significant contribution to Lewis scholarship.

As education was so vital to this giant of an intellect, it is amazing that there has been silence as to C.S. Lewis on Education. But here we have this void filled superbly by Heck.

One can describe his approach as thorough and chronological, and well documented. Likely this is not for average interested soul in Lewis, but rather more dedicated follower or educator that would be interested in staying with the documentation of Lewis' educational journey. Presentation of history and facts are more academic style, rather than these taken into prose form with stories and illustrations driving the read, rather than just documentation. And documentation abounds: glossary, index of faculty collegaues, appendixes on Lewis' books read, etc. Thus, limited audience.

This is way typifies Lewis on education: for those who want to learn, not those who think they should receive only what they want. Easily Heck's concluding chapter was highlight of this reveiwer's read. Here Heck saliently and masterfully pulls all of it together about benefit of inquiry into Lewis on education e.g. "education is far more positive experience than a negative one, a matter of irrigating deserts rather than cutting down jungles. Students can and must learn to think outside the box, to think creatively, to explore, to analyze and synthesize, and teachers must so teach." "truth is objective rather than subjective. The waterfall is not sublime because I have sublime feelings; it is sublime in and of itself." "The educator can learn that education focuses on learning (the pursuit of knowledge) rather than training (the learning of skills)."

Much too be gleaned from Heck's penetrating investigation into Lewis' educational stance and background for both the Lewis devotee and Christian and educator. For above all, Lewis was an educator.

An interesting read provided by CPH Publishing, St. Louis, MO. I have already given this title as a gift and I am very selective in the titles I give as gifts.