Irrigating Deserts : C. S. Lewis on Education

by Heck, Joel D.

• ISBN13: 9780758600448
• ISBN10: 0758600445
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Concordia Pub House

Summary

This book looks at the education of C. S. Lewis, both as he received it in his formative years and as he dispensed it in his mature years. Lewis forged a strong understanding of the value of education in life. What he proposed and illustrated in his writings and modeled in the classroom is a passion for education in the classical tradition and a commitment to truth in the context of the Christian faith. Lewis?s defense of objective truth and the kind of curriculum that would support such truth form the foundation of his thought. Views on the purpose of education, model schools, and the Inner Ring also are explored along with the effectiveness of Lewis?s use of analogy and other techniques to shape both the heads and the hearts of his students. The analysis of Lewis?s educational philosophy and practice culminates in application of this philosophy and practice to current issues and challenges in modern education and modern Christian education: objective truth, pedagogy, curriculum, interdisciplinary thinking, the purpose of education, ?head and heart,? and much more.

Author Biography

Joel D. Heck is vice president of Academic Services at Concordia University, Austin, Texas

Table of Contents

Permissions and Acknowledgments	7	(4)
Introduction	11	(12)
1. The Mind of C. S. Lewis	15
Part I: C.S. Lewis on Education
2. C.S. Lewis on the Purpose and Practice of Education	23	(26)
The Purpose of Education	28	(3)
The Liberal Arts	31	(3)
Utility and Vocationalism	34	(1)
The Tao	35	(3)
Egalitarianism	38	(4)
Athletic Competition	42	(1)
Discipline	43	(1)
The Inner Ring	44	(2)
Amateur Philosophers	46	(3)
3. C.S. Lewis on the Curriculum of Education	49	(10)
The Curriculum	49	(1)
General Education Curriculum	50	(5)
The English Syllabus	55	(4)
4. Reading and Rereading Books	59	(8)
The Literary Reader	60	(2)
Reading Old Books	62	(5)
Part II: C.S. Lewis as a Student
5. The Early Education of C.S. Lewis	67	(6)
At Home	67	(1)
Wynyard School and Campbell College	68	(1)
Cherbourg House and Malvern College	69	(2)
William T. (W.T.) Kirkpatrick	71	(2)
6. C.S. Lewis at Oxford	73	(20)
An Oxford Education	74	(4)
The University Tutorial System	78	(2)
The University Lecture System	80	(2)
C.S. Lewis's Education at Oxford	82	(7)
Summary	89	(4)
Part III: C.S. Lewis as a Teacher
7. C.S. Lewis as an Oxford Fellow	93	(24)
A Brief History of Oxford University	95	(2)
A Brief History of Magdalen College, Oxford	97	(2)
Magdalen College during the Lewis Years	99	(18)
8. C.S. Lewis at Cambridge	117	(10)
A Brief History of Cambridge University	118	(1)
A Brief History of Magdalene College, Cambridge	119	(3)
Magdalene College during the Lewis Years	122	(5)
9. C.S. Lewis as Tutor and Lecturer	127	(14)
Lewis as Tutor	128	(4)
Taking a Tutorial with Lewis	132	(2)
Lewis as Lecturer and Scholar	134	(7)
10. Lessons from C.S. Lewis	141	(4)
Appendix I: Books C.S. Lewis Read: 1922-1927	145	(12)
Appendix II: The Norwood Report	157	(6)
Appendix III: The Green Book	163	(8)
Appendix IV: Orbilius	171	(6)
Appendix V: The Colleagues of C.S. Lewis	177	(48)
The Fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford	178	(10)
The English Fellows of Oxford University	188	(11)
The Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge	199	(3)
The English Fellows of Cambridge University	202	(5)
Other Fellows of Oxford and Cambridge Universities	207	(18)
Appendix VI: An Educational Timeline of C.S. Lewis	225	(4)
Glossary	229	(4)
Notes	233	(28)
Bibliography	261