One Look at Postmodern Religious Education: A Portrait of Ananda School.

This descriptive study examined Ananda School (Nevada City, California) grades K-7, or as it is now called, Living Wisdom School (LWS). The specific goal was to examine the model of spiritual development embodied in the LWS program, its interpersonal dynamics, and its curriculum. The study sought to understand how the school operates within the broader philosophical and spiritual context in which it is situated. The school community consists of 52 students and 5 full-time teachers; the Ananda church members live together in a 75-unit apartment complex located about 4 miles from the school. The study was conducted at intervals over a 1-year period. While "Education for Life" is acknowledged as the central philosophy of the school, the uniqueness of the school hinges on a combination of factors, particularly the character of its teachers. In light of educational theory, Ananda exemplifies Noddings moral education framework based on an ethic of caring, as well as Dewey's philosophy of attending to individual needs and capacities. (Includes a figure ("Ananda rules"), 19 notes, 4 references, and an appendix offering background on Ananda.) (BT)