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Book SynopsisNow, more than ever, high quality relationships between teachers and learners are critical to deep meaningful learning and to the learner's long-term success. Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationships: The Way of the Shamanic Teacher (Second Edition) explores the nature of the transcendent teacher learner relationship and precisely how such relationships of warmth, safety, mutual care, mutual respect and mutual trust are developed and maintained. Personal narratives from the classroom frontlines as well as the analysis contained herein provide a fresh outlook, a roadmap that leads to the most transformative relationships imaginable for teachers and learners.
Trade ReviewAdvance praise for Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationships: “Hunter O’Hara crafts a rare work of significance that encapsulates the art of great teaching. The focus of the book on the transcendent teacher learner relationship reveals the core of educational effectiveness. Wrapped up in the unique package of teacher as shaman, this book gifts the reader great insight and powerful examples. Revives teaching as joyous - a must read for all educators.” – Patty O’Grady, Teacher, Teacher Educator and Author of Positive Psychology in the Classroom, W. W. Norton, 2013 “Obviously written by a careful scholar and person of integrity and rather beautiful ideas. There is something lovely and authentic and very personal about his work. I feel the rarity of what he talks about.” – Maxine Greene, Ph.D., Teachers College, Columbia University, teacher, author, existential philosopher of education of Hunter O’Hara’s original research on transcendent teacher learner relationships "In an era when teachers are losing more of their power and free-will in the classroom every day, Hunter O’Hara reminds us all to stay connected to the truth: Authentic education is a co-mingling of souls, and both teacher and learner have so much to gain when they harness the power of the transcendent. Dr. O’Hara gathers the wisdom of the ages and then performs the remarkable task of offering us a grounded road map, enabling courageous teachers to bring these gifts to their students. Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationships: The Way of the Shamanic Teacher should be required reading in all education programs.” – Patricia Dunn-Fierstein, LCSW, CST-T, Jungian Psychotherapist, author of the forthcoming novel Finding Grace “I entered into Hunter O’Hara’s work and experienced many moments that moved me deeply, at times with great joy but also with feelings of sadness in the awareness that transcendent relationships are rare and that many children and adults go through an entire lifetime without knowing one of life’s treasures - the mystery, beauty, and wonder of a loving relationship. His writing is vivid and alive and with passion and depth portrays the nature and essence of the constituents of a transcendent relationship.” – Clark Moustakas, Ed.D., Ph.D., founder of the Center for Humanistic Studies (now the Michigan School of Professional Psychology) of Hunter O’Hara’s original research on transcendent teacher learner relationships “At once humbling and empowering, this work will not fail to touch its readers and, ultimately, bring to learners authentic caring, love, hope, and a sense of being valued. The very real stories of the teachers and learners that are revealed here in their portraits leap vividly off the pages of the book. Hunter O’Hara’s bold vision of schools of transcendence is the next crucial step toward transcendent relationships and community consciousness. Readers will be inspired by this vision in Dr. O’Hara’s ground breaking work and will be able to look within themselves for the capacity to become shamanic transcendent teachers.” – Edyth James Wheeler, Ph.D. Professor Emerita, Towson University, teacher and author of Conflict Resolution in Early Childhood: Helping Children Understand and Resolve Conflicts, Merrill, 2004
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements 1 The Nature of the Transcendent Relationship 1 Dash and the Electrician: A Parable of a Transcendent Relationship 2 Analysis 3 Teacher and Learner 4 The King’s Speech 5 The Transcendent Teacher 6 The Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationship 7 The Author’s Background with Teaching and Learning Encounters 8 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 9 The Mother as Teacher 10 Life at School 11 How People Acted at School 12 Life at Home 13 What I Needed at School 14 Teacher Realness 15 Mrs. Peggy Pridemore, Transcendent Teacher 16 Down the Road 17 A Reflection Before a Storm, Then Sunshine 18 Teacher Power and Relationships 19 Questions for Thought 2 The Nature of the Transcendent Shamanic Teacher 1 Anne And Helen 2 Transcendent Shamanic Teaching 3 The Transcendent Shamanic Teacher Merges with the Learner 4 Transcendent Shamanic Teaching as a Glamorous Act 5 Transcendent Shamanic Teaching Uplifts, Heals and Mobilizes the Learner 6 A Note Regarding the Unencumbered Learner and the Transcendent Shamanic Teacher 7 The Origins of Transcendent Shamans 8 Portrait of Veronica and Theoni 9 Veronica Risks 10 Final Thoughts from Theoni 11 Transcendent Shamanism in the Everyday Context 12 Questions for Thought 3 Portrait of Transcendent Shamanic Teacher 1 Peggy the Learner and Her Transcendent Teacher Mr. Santon 2 Peggy the Teacher 3 Charley 4 Peggy and Hunter 5 A Moment of Peggy’s Teaching: An Act of Glamour and Power 6 Questions for Thought 4 An Ethic of Care, Tact and Tone 1 An Ethic of Care 2 Obstacles to Caring for the Learner 3 Tact 4 Tone 5 Questions for Thought 5 Portrait of Transcendent Relator 1 At Home 2 Frances 3 Ms. Nettie 4 The Pedagogy of Manners 5 Being Open 6 The Art of Conversation 7 Freedom and Afffection 8 Questions for Thought 6 Trust, Freedom and Mother Love 1 The Facilitator 2 Three Essential Attitudes of the Facilitator 3 A Bit on Trust from Rogers 4 The Move toward Freedom 5 Mother Love 6 Questions for Thought 7 Portraits of Transcendent Relators 1 Lauren 2 Lauren’s School Experiences 3 The Connection 4 Portrait of Kathy 5 Kathy 6 Kathy in High School 7 Kathy at College 8 Questions for Thought 8 Risk, Authority and Trust 1 Authority and Corresponding Risk 2 The Dilemma of Building a New Authority Dynamic 3 Trust 4 An Atmosphere of Security 5 The Revelation of the Teacher’s Innermost Self 6 Morning Spirit 7 Questions for Thought 9 Portraits of Transcendent Relators 1 Jerry 2 A Cold Teacher (Ms. Gilzenskolds [A Pseudonym]) 3 Leslie, a Caring Teacher 4 Jerry at Saint Albans High School 5 A Little Thing 6 Afffijirming the Learner’s Individuality 7 Portrait of Transcendent Shamanic Teacher: Leslie 8 Leslie (Jerry’s Professor) 9 Spiritual Professor 10 Direct Professor 11 Beloved Professor 12 Challenging Professor 13 Pushing Professor 14 Graceful Professor 15 Leslie the Teacher 16 Putting Oneself in the Place of the Learner 17 Jerry (Prior Portrait) and Leslie 18 Risk 19 Questions for Thought 10 Balance, Transcendence and Dispositions 1 Maxine Greene, Freedom and Negotiation 2 Freedom and Discipline 3 The Transcendence Space 4 Hospitality 5 Teacher Reflection 6 Transcendence 7 Hope 8 Creativity 9 Awareness 10 Faithful Doubt 11 Wonder, Awe and Reverence 12 Questions for Thought 11 Portraits of Transcendent Relators 1 Kellen 2 Kellen’s Life 3 Jan 4 Dr. Noy 5 Dr. Ball 6 Portrait of Dr. Ball 7 Dr. Ball (Kellen’s Professor) 8 The Service 9 More Background 10 Dr. Ball, the Teacher 11 The Teacher as Empowerer, Not as Helper 12 Humor and Answers 13 Questions for Thought 12 Reconciliation, Banking Education, Problem Posing Education, the I-It and I-Thou Relationships, and the Teacher as Midwife 1 Reconciliation between Teacher and Student 2 Banking Education 3 Problem Posing Education 4 The I-IT Relationship 5 The I-Thou Relationship 6 Becoming Mutual 7 Dialogue and Inclusion 8 The Teacher as Midwife 9 Communion 10 Questions for Thought 13 Portrait of Transcendent Shamanic Teacher 1 Laura 2 First Transcendence 3 The Confrontation 4 The Transformation 5 A Mutual Relationship 6 Laura the Teacher 7 Equality and Freedom 8 Humor 9 The Mutual Exchange 10 Reciprocal Relationships 11 Questions for Thought 14 Power, Rhythm, the Turning Point, Limits, Limitations and Labeling 1 Compelling Powers and Rhythm 2 Establishing a Bond with the Learner 3 The Turning Point 4 Limits and Limitations 5 The Damaging Impact of Labels 6 Precocious Learners and Labeling 7 Questions for Thought 15 Portrait of Transcendent Shamanic Teacher 1 Beth 2 Beth’s Classroom 3 Beth the Teacher 4 Alexander 5 Removing Barriers 6 Questions for Thought 16 The Transcendent Teacher-Learner Relationship: A Class Investigation 1 Introduction/Perspectives of the Research 2 Methods/Data Source 3 Composite Narratives 4 Summary and Implications 5 Implications for Early Childhood Teacher Educators 6 Questions for Thought 17 Miracles Can Happen: The School of Transcendence 1 Perspectives on Education 2 Methods/Data Source 3 Findings 4 Philosophical Orientation and Approach to Creating Learning Encounters 5 Curricula 6 Planning and Scheduling 7 Assessment And Evaluation 8 Physical Space 9 School Community Interpersonal Relationships 10 Traditional Schools as Places of Violence 11 Governance of the School of Transcendence 12 Transcendence-Oriented Approaches Implemented in Reggio Emilia Schools 13 Metaphors for the School of Transcendence 14 Conclusion 15 Questions for Thought 18 Putting It All Together 1 A Synthesis of the Research on Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationships 2 Love 3 Trust, Risk and Tact 4 Seeing from the Other’s Point of View 5 Dialogue and the Reduction of Distance 6 Mutuality and Reciprocity 7 Transcendent Impact 8 Community 9 The Transformative Impact of the Transcendent Teacher Learner Relationship 10 Questions for Thought Appendix A: Heuristic Research Methodology and Procedures Appendix B: Transcendent Teacher Dispositions Appendix C: Role Play Scenarios References
