About the Book
The primary point of departure of this important book is its critique of the current utilitarian notion that the main purpose of education is to equip individuals to compete in the global market place. Professor O'Sullivan argues persuasively that every educational system must instead first equip people with an understanding of where their society is headed. He marshalls an array of evidence from environmentalists and philosophers to show that the 20th Century -- the century of the economy -- is inevitably about to give way to a new century of the environment. Otherwise, our planet faces accelerating social disintegration and environmental collapse.
Educationalists must, as a result, be asking profound questions about the content of what is taught. This needs to start with a deep understanding of the historic transition which all our societies are about to be compelled by circumstances to make. The fundamental task of educationalists is to introduce into curricula at all levels a grasp of what is wrong with the modern era, why it will be replaced, and a vision of possible new directions. It goes almost without saying that the intellectual tools, ethical values, and practical skills required for a more humane, environmentally conscious and socially just epoch will be very different from many of those taught today.
This book is primarily directed at teachers, teacher trainers and educational philosophers. But the author's magnificent analysis of where we find ourselves historically and his inspiring vision of where we could go in reshaping our communities will inspire a much wider readership.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Prologue.
1. Education in a Period of Historical Decline.
2. Education and the Dilemmas of Modernism.
3. Modernism: The Eclipse of Cosmology and the Loss of the View of the Whole.
4. Ringing in our Ears and Invading our Souls.
5. Dimensions of Power: Education for Peace, Social Justice and Diversity.
6. The Planetary Context of Creativity: Educational Vision in a Cosmological Context.
7. Education for Integral Development.
8. Anima Mundi: Quality of Life Education.
9. Epilogue: Kindling the Fires of the Soul: Educating the Human Spirit in our time.
About the Author :
Edmund O'Sullivan is a Professor of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies inEducation at the University of Toronto. Eimear O'Neill, PhD, is a psychotherapist, an educator, and a consultant intransformative processes, who coordinates Spirit Matters gatherings in Toronto,Canada. Mark Hathaway is a PhD candidate and Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar at OISE/UT.
Review :
'One of the most far-reaching, compelling books on education and educational reform that I have read in a decade.' - Henry A. Giroux, Waterbury Chair Professor, Penn State University 'A very powerful book on profoundly important concerns which should be read by all those who are interested in human and planetary survival.' - David Purpel, author of 'The Moral and Spiritual Crisis in Education: A Curriculum for Justice and Compassion in Education' 'This ambitious and imaginative book addresses the reform of education in new terms. Where most contemporary 'reforms' are really about how to make education cheaper, O'Sullivan focusses on how to make it more relevant to the tremendous problems of global society and personal change in the new millenium.' - Professor R W Connell, University of Sydney; author of 'Making the Difference' 'As an anti-racist educator, I find O'Sullivan's reading of race, difference and power very useful. Transformative Learning requires that we deal with the cancer of racism at its multifarious levels: social, spiritual, environmental, economic and political.' - George Sefa Dei, author of 'Anti-Racist Education:Theory and Practice' 'In this visionary book Edmund O'Sullivan poses a major challenge to educators today to acknowledge and support in their work the boundless beauty and creativity of the planet and our place in it.' - Angela Miles, author, 'Integrative Feminisms: Building Global Visions', and co-founder, Woman for a Just and Healthy Planet 'A beautifully written book. What O'Sullivan envisages is a true globalisation -- for humanity, and for life itself.' - Johan Galtung, Professor of Peace Studies and Director of Transcend: A Peace and Development Network. 'Ed O'Sullivan presents, shares, articulates from a heart-formed mind. His book is destined to travel far. People of all races will want to thank him.' - Dr Joe Couture, Cree Healer and former Director, Native Studies Programme, Trent University, Canada. 'A deeply felt and thrillingly insightful articulation of a cosmology for educational sustainability.' - David Selby, author of 'Global Teacher/Global Learner' and 'Reconnections: From National to Global Curriculum' 'A sweeping, provocative challenge to all citizens and educators. Read it!' - Professor Michael R. Welton, author of 'In the Defense of the Life World: Critical Perspectives on Adult Learning' 'A powerful ecological vision for education ...[which] provides a way for it to develop whole human beings in the context of a sustainable planetary environment.' - John Miller, author of 'The Holistic Curriculum' 'Edmund O'Sullivan reveals the moral and spiritual atrophies resulting from the current dominant development model. His book will serve as an inspiration and will bring hope to the next generation.' - Jos Zarate, a Quechua from Peru and Canadian Development Coordinator, Primate's World Relief Development Fund, The Anglican Church of Canada. 'In this eye-opening book, O'Sullivan presents a new conception of planetary consciousness relevant to education and oriented to community and the natural world.' - Professor Ching Miao, Beijing Academy of Social Sciences 'This book has a scope and depth which makes it of value far beyond the confines of educationalists. It is a truly integrative study which challenges us to relocate the roots of many of the critical issues facing humanity today.' - Colin Craig, Director, The Corrymeela Community, Northern Ireland 'Professor O'Sullivan transcends a provincial 'northern' perspective and creates a vision of universal application.' - Professor Abelardo Brenes, University of Costa Rica and the United Nations University for Peace 'O'Sullivan's bold imaginings are potentially the generative principles of educational reforms for the next millennium. Against the destructive reality of what he labels the biocide of competitive industrial globalisation, he proffers a rich and imaginative alternative vision for education.' - Ciaran Sugrue, Professor of Curriculum, St.Patricks, Dublin 'O'Sullivan moves past the cliches of globalization and consumer culture and draws a graphic picture of a divided globe in ecological and social peril. He then proposes a convincing critical and holistic education as an essential strategy if we are to survive as a species.' - Richard Swift, New Internationalist 'An invaluable companion for researchers and practitioners in education. His book brings an integrated approach to social transformation and educational reform.' - Thomas Mark Turay, Director, Caritas Makeni, Sierra Leone 'A profound critique of much of presentday education... He combines passionate commitments to both social and ecological justice and brings wisdom to the daunting tasks of the 21st century.' - Anne Lonergan, Centre for Ecology and Spirituality, Toronto and coeditor of 'Thomas Berry and the New Cosmology'
