“
Self care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the
only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.
Anytime we can listen to true self, and give it the care it
requires, we do so not only for ourselves, but for the many others
whose lives we touch. ”
- Parker J. Palmer
Courage
to Teach
was developed by author Parker J. Palmer and the Center
for Courage
& Renewal
and is offered by facilitators around the world who have been prepared
by the Center. This work began in Hawaii in the spring of
2006.
Courage to Teach:
- renews heart, mind, and spirit through the
exploration of the inner landscape of a teacher's life
- reconnects one's identity and integrity -
identifying and honoring gifts and strenghts, and acknolweding limits
- creates a context for careful listening and depp
connection that also honors diversity in person and profession
- helps
educators create safe spaces and trusting relationships in their
schools, with their students and colleagues, and within their
communities
- explores the connection between attending to the
inner life of educators and the renewal of public education
Each
CTT group consists of twenty to thirty educators who gather for
three-day quarterly retreats over a one or two-year period.
In
large-group, small-group, and solitary settings, "the heart of a
teacher" is explored, making use of personal stories, reflections on
classroom practice, and insights from poets, storytellers, and various
wisdom traditions. Each retreat follows a seasonal theme,
using
the rich metaphors of the seasons as a way of exploring vocational and
life questions.
Courage
to Teach (CTT) is a program of quarterly retreats for the personal and
professional renewal of public school educators. The program
is
especially designed for those of us who are engaged in teaching, health
care, leadership and other serving professions and who know the
challenge of sustaining ourselves and our commitment to deeply held
values and beliefs. The more passionate we are about
our work, the more vital it
is that we take time to renew our own spirits - to reflect on the
wellsprings of our service to others - to
reconnect who we are with what we do.