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... SUCH WAS THE RESPONSE OF A HIGH SCHOOL student when asked, "What is the problem in schooling?" I wonder how many of us, if asked about schools or other organizations, would respond likewise.
The idea of spirituality in the workplace and schoolhouse is often met with a less than enthusiastic response. It is as intangible as it gets, and often closely associated with organized religion, in whose exclusive domain many feel spirit should reside. But this isn't necessarily so.
The dictionary is one of my favorite books. I like to discover the roots of words; words often evolve into meanings that were not originally intended. Roots ground me in meaning. Here is what I found:
Spirit comes from the Latin word spiritus, meaning "breath." It is defined as "the vital principle or animating force traditionally believed to be within living beings; one's essential nature."
The definition of the word soul is similar: "The animating and vital principle in the human being, credited with the faculties of thought, action, and emotion." In fact, the word "animate" is derived from the Latin word animare, meaning "soul," and is defined as "to give life to."
Notice that there is no mention of morality, ethics, or religion. Religion is the path that some choose to nurture spirit. Although some religions claim to be the only path, my sense is that there are many. Another path might be our organizations (a few of which are hiring "ethicists"). What organizations would not want to "give life to" those who spend much of their waking lives there? Don't we want employees and students alike...