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* MY EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY *

- By Coleman Wheeler -

Presently in our world,
we are experiencing the polarization of many elements
(ie. races, religions, politics, genders, and values)
with heated debates and physical confrontations
proclaiming our differences.
Negativity and cynicism run rampant
as society is challenged to communicate,
question, revise, and ultimately reinvent itself.

Our ultimate mission, as visionary educators,
must be to prepare students to be vibrant,
focused, responsible, productive, respectful,
environmentally aware, interdependent citizens
of our common home (the world and beyond)
with its many natural variations of life.

To best achieve this goal
we must work with students and society
as compassionate, humane, unifying role models
in celebration of our equally-shared diversity.
We must immerse ourselves
within a wide variety of practical in-depth
*holistic, *integrated, *experiential
learning processes.
Educational intellectualization has little value
without practical application.

* HOLISTIC *
Education addressing all aspects
of the person and society
(ie.mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.)

* INTEGRATED *
Weaving together of all areas
of the curriculum, via the learning process,
into the all-encompassing color-filled fabric of life.

* EXPERIENTIAL *
Practical, first-hand learning
derived from a person's actual real life experiences.

It is important for educators, students (and society)
to stay in touch with the natural environment
as an emotional stabilizing, clarifying, and focusing agent.

The Great Outdoors
provides us with a truly awesome laboratory
with unlimited opportunities
to excercise life-coping skills;
allowing us to get ever-deeper in touch with
our selves, each other, and our world
(ie."I am also a you.")

To become immersed within the grandeur
of timeless natural environments,
like The Grand Canyon, humbles us,
making us feel "Significantly Insignificant",
while connecting us to the importance
of striving to live in harmony with all beings.

My educational philosophy
has been fostered through my own life experiences.
I've always believed in living life to the fullest.
Among my mentors are:

* Anthropologist Margaret Mead *
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed people can change the world."

* Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. *
"I have a dream..."

* President John F.Kennedy *
"Ask not what your country can do for you,
but what you can do for your country."

* Senator Robert Kennedy *
"Some men see things that are and say why;
I dream things that never were, and say 'Why not?'"

* American Field Service (AFS) *
International/Intercultural Student Exchange Program
"Walk together, talk together,
all ye peoples of the earth.
Then, and only then, shall we have peace."

I continue my crusade
to break down the barriers
that propagate apathy and ignorance in our world.
My goal is ultimately, to help effect positive social change.

Among my Personal Successes:

* Producing & Directing the
"14-HOUR SIERRA CLUB
OZARK MOUNTAINS MUSICAL BENEFIT".
- in Jasper, Arkansas -

* Directing The Dedication of
"THE STATUE OF LIBERTY"
on July 4th, 1986, in New York City harbor,
for The Smithsonian Institution of Washington, DC.

* Directing 3,000 of America's Finest Athletes for
The Opening Ceremonies of "OLYMPIC FESTIVAL'94"
under The Gateway Arch National Monument,
- in St. Louis, Missouri. -

* Producing & Directing
The World's First Production of
"JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR!"

* Directing the Creation of Many Large, Uplifting,
Permanent MURALS for the Hallways
of a High School and a College
in Two Depressed Rural Areas
- in Southern Illinois and in Northern Arkansas. -

* Founding & Directing the Award-Winning
"THE GREAT AMERICAN ADVENTURE CLUB",
Classroom-Without-Walls,
Holistic, Integrated, Experiential Learning Program
for Over 1,000-Teenagers to date. - Centralia, Illinois -

* Coordinating The Opening Ceremonies for
"THE 1996 INTERNATIONAL SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES"
- in Atlanta, Georgia. -

* Serving as U.S. Director-At-Large, for 15-Years,
Directing Large-Scale Educational Programs for the
"AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE (AFS)
International/Intercultural Student Exchange Programs
for Students from 27-Countries of the World.
- New York, New York -

MY PHILOSOPHY IN A NUTSHELL:

* "Believe It and Achieve It!" *

* "Reach For The Stars!" *

* "We're All in This Together!" *

* "Just Do It!" *

My Students Always Work Directly With Me
in the Process of Turning Dreams Into Reality!

Relate to your students
out of who they could, or might be -
Not out of who they appear to be.
You may be pleasantly surprised
at the difference it makes.
- Eric Jensen - Author of "Superteaching" -

Alot of people become more responsible
than they thought they could
because someone else thought they could.

8 CONDITIONS FOR SCHOOL SUCCESS:
1) A Feeling of Belonging.
2) Having Heroes.
3) A Sense of Accomplishment.
4) Fun & Excitement.
5) Curiosity & Creativity.
6) A Spirit of Adventure.
7) Leadership & Responsibility.
8) Confidence to Take Action.
- Dr. Russell J. Quaglia, Director -
The National Center for Student Aspirations
- The University of Maine -