Education as Hospitality: The Perspectives of Parker J. Palmer

Education as Hospitality: The Perspectives of Parker J. Palmer

Brian KB LAM

This article introduces Parker J. Palmer's views on education, using the concept of hospitality to help us understand his perspectives. We start with concrete examples of two college teachers who were deeply influenced by Palmer. One of them asked herself a life-changing question: "What would be different about your teaching if you thought of yourself as a host and of your students as guests?" Then we examine the discussion on hospitality by Henri Nouwen, since Palmer was indebted to Nouwen for this concept. Finally we summarize Palmer's view on knowing and teaching via the concept of hospitality.