What would it be like to teach as if life matters? To move beyond the typical regimen of classroom exercises, homework, and standardized tests and to guide students through life's most important lessons? Dissatisfied with traditional educational models, Christopher Uhl and Dana L. Stuchul asked themselves these same questions. What they discovered will open the eyes of today's educators to a whole new way of teaching.The authors promote an approach that fosters self-knowledge, creativity, curiosity, and an appreciation for the earth. Central to their philosophy is one question''What do we humans need to live meaningful lives?'' The answer: healthy relationships with ourselves, each other, and the world in which we live. Teaching as if Life Matters is an open letter to teachers offering guidance and encouragement on how to nurture students in ways that make teaching and learning meaningful. In short, it is a passionate plea for transformative teaching. Informed by the alternative educational philosophies of John Dewey, Maria Montessori, Rudolf Steiner, and Ivan Illich, this book invites teachers and students to participate in a new education culture.This fascinating and urgently needed book will inspire today's educators to inspire their students.''A thought-provoking book that often caused me to stop and reflect about the meaning of my work as a teacher and mentor.''David E. Drew, Claremont Graduate University
