Review
Seldom do I receive manuscripts in this field with as much passion and beautiful writing as this. I wish we could have published it. (Don Bohl )
The authors of
Teaching Virtues invite the reader to think 'outside the box' as they construct an innovative model for character, drawing from the great spiritual traditions of First Nations people of North America. (Larry Brendtro )
We give our highest endorsement to
Teaching Virtues. The authors present an approach that does not separate character education from effective teaching, but instead makes it foundational. After reading this book, you'll be certain that effective character education should not be a supplemental activity! (Edward DeRoche and Mary Williams )
Teaching Virtues is a fundamental and welcomed change in educational approaches to building character. It uses a meaningful context for youth rather than just dishing out facts and hoping that kids will eventually succeed in life. (Vine Deloria, Jr. )
In this brilliantly written, utterly practical book, the authors tell and show teachers--and anybody with an interest in our future generations--how to build this wise and ancient way of learning into both classroom practice and everyday life. Help make the world a better place: read and use this book now! (Thom Hartmann )
This splendid book will help us bring to education one of the most neglected and abused resources of our continent: the deep knowing of the American Indian people...Everyone who reads this book with an open heart and mind will emerge wiser and stronger for the experience. (Parker J. Palmer )
This book offers a new but ancient perspective on teaching virtues. Like the American Indian people who practiced it for thousands of years, it does not allow us to separate character from content, and by this, makes it possible for us all to "walk the talk. (Gandhi, Sunita )
Here is an educational approach that honors the interconnectedness of the world and helps our young people engage it with wisdom and integrity. The result is a refreshing perspective on character education. (Ron Miller )
Teaching Virtues adds to our understanding of the connections between the teaching of virtues and the practice of moral reciprocity within community. (Bowers, C.A )
I read this book with much interest. The topics addressed here are of great importance for educational practice, and hence, as the authors rightly emphasize, for the larger society. They approach the issues of character education from a variety of directions, including a highly suggestive American Indian perspective that has been far too little understood in our culture.
Teaching Virtues is a stimulating and thoughtful contribution. (Chomsky, Noam )
With clarity and directness, the authors provide an inspiring and practical guide for teachers to infuse character education throughout the curriculum. Their framework adds much needed meaning and integrity to learning and honors the creativity and wisdom of each teacher. (Kessler, Rachael )
From the Author
Life is complex and mysterious of course. If I were to offer a simple "answer" to our many problems, however, I would say two things. First, our problems stem from our inability to express our positive, mental, physical, creative and spiritual potential as relates to each of us as individuals and as members of a community.
Second, our problems relate to our alienation of the natural world.
The source of both the inability and the alienation is a loss of intuitive awareness of our connections to all things in the seen and unseen world, AND our inability to consistently apply the core universal virtues in every aspect of our life. These virtues include courage, generosity, patience, humility, fortitude and honesty.
As a result of these shortcomings, we have continued to embrace a worldview that emphasizes individual material gain and personal authoritarian power. We cannot continue if we give allegiance to such a paradigm. Mother Earth will see to it.
