Leading Education Activist Gives Talk, Workshop at USM
The role of education in developing a more diverse society
will be explored in a public talk by best-selling author,
Parker J. Palmer. A leading educator and activist, Palmer
will give a free public lecture and book-signing from 5-7
p.m. on Tuesday, March 4th, in Room 10 of Bailey Hall on USM's
Gorham campus.
Best known for his book, "The Courage to Teach: Exploring
the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life," Palmer has championed
the role of teachers in renewing public education and offers
teacher-enrichment seminars across the country.
Palmer's lecture, entitled "The Company of Strangers: Higher
Education and the Renewal of America's Public Life," examines
the ways in which education can help bridge the isolation
experienced by those "outside" of America's social and ethnic
majorities. He also will conduct a free workshop for educators
on "Formation Principles and Practices," from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m on Wednesday, March 5th, on the Gorham campus.
"In the wake of recent events, as we have become more suspicious
and even fearful of strangers, it's even more incumbent on
our educators to help Americans become full participants in
embracing the company of strangers," said Palmer. "History
proves that hospitality to strangers is vital to the health
of both private and political life."
This is Palmer's second visit to the university. Under a
visiting scholars program sponsored by the Libra Foundation,
Palmer is serving as one of the 2002-2003 Libra Scholars for
USM's College of Education and Human Development. His first
Libra lecture here in fall 2002 brought a standing-room-only
crowd.
Palmer, a senior associate of the American Association of
Higher Education, has worked extensively on issues of education,
community, leadership, spirituality, and social change. In
1998, The Leadership Project named Palmer one of the thirty
"most influential senior leaders" in higher education. For
more information on Palmer, visit: www.usm.maine.edu/cehd/parker_palmer.htm
Educators interested in attending the workshop on "Formation
Principles and Practices"--Palmer's method for helping teachers
develop and incorporate the inner life into their teaching
practices--should contact Kim Warren at 207-780-5902 or e-mail,
kwarren@usm.maine.edu.
The Gorham-based workshop is free, but registration is required
and seating is limited.
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