"Educational institutions are full of divisive structures, of course, but blaming them for our brokenness perpetuates the myth that the outer work is more powerful than the inner. The external structures of education would not have the power to divide us as deeply as they do if they were not rooted in one of the most compelling features of our inner landscape -- fear (Palmer, 2007, p.36)"
Institutions can push our buttons and they seem to push the fear button so very well. Palmer strikes at something that is so basic and human. Fear takes so many forms in our experience from outright terror to the more subtle insecurities that plaque most of our lives (at least in my life!). It's often easy to blame institutions for why we don't connect more and better to one another. I've been on both sides of institution bashing and blaming. "The Church is so dysfunctional!" "She's the worst principal!" "The kids here just don't want to learn!" "The parents really run this place!" It's so easy to blame something outside of ourselves for the way things are. I've been there. I've done that.
They first day I was in charge of 900 kids, 65 faculty and God knows how many coaches, fear entered my heart in a new way. Or maybe it didn't enter my heart in a new way, I just felt it stir in a new way. I could have blamed my predecessor, or the Superintendent, but day in and day out, I was actually where the buck did stop. Around that same time I was elected to the leadership of my community. My God, now I was "them!" The them I use to blame for my unhappiness or restlessness. It's often about perspective! But I do agree with Palmer, fear is all too often the default mode of administration and used when we simply don't know what else to do. But it only works if there is actually fear to be tapped into.
I wasn't sure exactly what Palmer was getting at when he spoke of how we subscribe to "religions of fear who exploit our dread of death and damnation (Palmer, 2007, p.39). He must speaking of something other than Catholicism! I realize that religion, including Catholicism, has throughout history used fear as a motivator but religion, especially Christianity, and in particular Catholicism in its purest form, is a powerful force for hope - that which is the opposite of fear.
The Bible is filled with stories of angels appearing and telling us to no be afraid. Jesus himself, throughout the Gospels, tries to convince us to not fear but to feel the love of God the Father. True religion frees us from fear!
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Perspective is key: the Student From Hell introduced an experience Palmer hopes he will never forget. It isn't always easy to see things from others' points of view and so it is with his other idea which you touched upon: throughout some of European Christian (Catholic) history, fear was indeed a motivating factor. Look at the tympanums of many 800-year-old cathedrals and see what will happen when you rock the societal boat.
ReplyDeleteYes, the blame game is the modus operandi when we are fearful. Also relevant here, for me, was Palmer's comment about fear impacting our relations with faculty colleagues. That fear can surface in many ways and circumstances, from not fully participating in faculty meetings to not responding to faculty e-mails!
ReplyDelete"I realize that religion, including Catholicism, has throughout history used fear as a motivator but religion, especially Christianity, and in particular Catholicism in its purest form, is a powerful force for hope - that which is the opposite of fear."
ReplyDeleteIndeed, this must be a focus of Catholic schools: to communicate this message. Unfortunately, I fear it is lost in the mass media at times.
Teachers, coaches, administrators, retreat directors, and anyone else associated with Catholic schools must be able to articulate this message from an informed perspective.