| FAQ Teaching For Peace |
How did you get started in this field?
At the age of 30, I stepped foot in a college classroom for the first time. My intention then, was to earn a bachelors degree
that would serve as foundation for a Masters of Divinity. The sadness I felt at the time over my own four children's school
experience was the motivation that redirected me into education. Ten years later, I graduated and was hired to teach in a
public middle school and then transferred to a fifth grade classroom. There was a grass roots parent movement to establish
an elementary Montessori program and I was the founding teacher for that program in Burlington, WI.
In my Montessori training, and through my own research on the life and work of Dr. Maria Montessori, I became interested
in her call to educate for peace and began to focus my work and attention on what it means to teach for peace, and why
Montessori schools are so successful at nurturing the spirit of the child. My own teaching experiences amazed me, as I saw
the true potential of children unfolding before my eyes. This combination of my observations of children in Montessori
learning environments, and my growing understanding of the depth and meaning of Montessori's prophetic vision,
compelled me to leave the classroom and dedicate my life's work to advocating for education reform in early childhood
and elementary education.
Is the concept of spiritual nurturing religiously based?
No. It is based on the idea of the sacred or the innate potential for good that all human beings possess.
Religion is an avenue some people choose as a spiritual path, but spirituality itself transcends religion.
My work is dedicated to the idea that we need to tend to the inner life of the child as well as the external elements.
This story, told by Dr. Wayne Dyer at a seminar illustrates why we must cultivate inner lives of children.
A man was getting ready to leave his house one night when his power went out, leaving him in the dark. He dropped the
keys he was holding, and being it was late and very dark without electricity, he decided he would instead look for his keys
outdoors where he noticed the street lights casting a wide light. His neighbor noticed him bent over looking for something
and came to help him. After a while, not having found his keys, the neighbor asked the man if he knew where it was that
he dropped the keys. Imagine he confusion when he was told the keys were lost inside, not outside.
Can your ideas and activities for nurturing spirituality be implemented in public schools?
Yes, my work is designed to be accessible to all forms of education. Because it is not based on any particular religion,
any interested parent or educator in a public, private, religious or non-religious school will find these ideas applicable to
their work with children.
What ages or grades do you focus on?
My focus is on the child from birth through grade six, although my experience teachings all grades K-8 provides me with
the insight for working with teachers of older children, as well.
What kinds of groups do you work with?
I work with any group of people who are rethinking how we raise and educate children, or who have a peace or
spirituality based consciousness. Specifically, I work with preschools, daycares, early childhood associations, Montessori
educators, and public schools, and parent groups. I have presented key note addresses and have spoken at conferences for
educators of all levels, and charter and public Montessori schools.
What are your fees?
Fees are determined by the length and structure of the presentation. Once I have a sense of what the presentation will
entail, I will provide fee information. Some travel and lodging fees may apply.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Lesson: We need to start looking inside to solve our life challenges and to find answers to the questions we ask. |