Weaving the Future in Holistic Education: Key Principles and Implications for Serving Todays Troubled Youths and Families

Abstract

The main aim of holistic education is to call forth from people an intrinsic reverence for life and a passionate love of learning. Unfortunately, many of today's modern societies appear to focus on the pursuit of material possessions and career advancement. Arguing that spiritual growth is part and parcel of the personal, social and emotional development, education and care of youths, this paper present some key principals for educators and other professionals working with troubled youths and their families. It concludes that the well-being of our spiritual life not only goes a long way toward overcoming the sense of fragmentation and alienation that so many of our students feel, but will also helps our next generation lead more meaningful lives.

Whole-Person Development of Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Multi-University Study

“…This finding further implies that whole-person development of nursing students leads to a better academic outcome, which is consistent with the findings of Ebrahimi et al (2016), that become academically successful when they are physically healthy, mentally alert, emotionally safe, and spiritually positive. Zhang (2016) mentioned that integrating all holistic dimensions could generate positive environments that help develop understanding and critical thinking skills. Fostering a positive holistic development equates to integrating a student's emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, and spiritual progress (Ng et al, 2016).…”

“…In many countries, the nursing curriculum has shifted from compartmentalizing physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual nourishment to a holistic development approach (Aboshaiqah & Cruz, 2019). Zhang (2016) argued that incorporating holistic education helped overcome students' feelings of disintegration and separation. In a study in India, holistic education was found to be critical in cultivating creativity, kindness, curiosity, ethical sensitivity, and critical thinking skills (Mankad, 2014).…”