The Universal Schoolhouse: [Paperback]

James Moffett (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966323327 | ISBN-13: 978-0966323320 | Publication Date: June 1, 1998 | Edition: 1998

Can schooling transform society? This visionary book argues that it can if we look beyond the traditional view of education as a means to finding jobs or getting ahead, and we attend to the personal development and enrichment of the whole child.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is the New Age approach to education: spirituality as self-growth into the full realization of one's true nature as Spirit incarnated into matter. Educator Moffett ( Harmonic Learning: Keynoting School Reform , Boynton Cook, 1992) believes that our present system of compulsory education is primitive, and reform efforts by government and business are a road to disaster in their self-serving quest for profit and control. In an equitable society based on spiritual principles, the "universal schoolhouse" would integrate social services with education, creating a network of public facilities available to all, as lifelong learners. Moffett's approach to education resembles Rousseau's and Rudolf Steiner's, with religious overtones. In his view it was never the intent of the founding fathers to separate public education from spirituality, only from institutionalized religion. For open-minded audiences.
- Arla Lindgren, St. John's Univ., New York
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Can schooling transform society? This visionary book argues that it can if we look beyond the traditional view of education as a means to finding jobs or "getting ahead," and we attend to the personal development and enrichment of the whole child. Education is a sacred, not an economic quest, and it is in our power to equip young people with the character and values necessary to enhance and improve the society they will inherit.In this book, noted teacher and thinker James Moffett sets forth a controversial, daring, and inspiring vision of what schooling can and should be. His highly personal, philosophical inquiry into the nature and purpose of education offers us a view of schooling as a lifelong spiritual quest with the power to promote the highest potential of the individual.Moffett challenges the school reform movement to reach beyond conventional goals that cater to bureaucratic and corporate interests and to take on a more "transformative" mission by creating holistically grounded, culturally relevant education that enables students to adapt and thrive in spite of societal challenges and technological change. He surveys all the good ways of learning found in and out of institutions, past and present--from apprenticing and tutoring to practicing the arts and spiritual disciplines--and he proposes how these would be made accessible within a universal schoolhouse or community learning network for all ages and purposes. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Calendar Islands Pub; 1998 edition (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966323327
• ISBN-13: 978-0966323320
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,323,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moffet calls for individualized learning models., December 31, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: The Universal Schoolhouse: Spiritual Awakening Through Education (Jossey Bass Education Series) (Hardcover)

James Moffet puts a lot of pieces together in this book. The book will appeal most to readers who share the author's interest in metaphysical and esoteric spirituality, individualized learning models, and social justice issues. My favorite line from the book: "Each community should organize a totally individualized far-flung learning network giving people of all ages access to any learning resource at any time." (p. xvi) Sounds like a mission statement for Amazon.com! For a more complete, published review of this work, try http://www.pacificrim.net/~rbunge/resources.html