Over the course of the next several days, I have the privilege of working with Mary Poplin, Professor of Education, Claremont Graduate University, as she speaks for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at a number of locations: Pittsburgh, PA (2/25-26), South Central PA (2/27-3/1), and Baltimore (3/2). In preparation for this project, which involves numerous partners, I took time to prayerfully consider, dig into, and reflect upon:
- Along the Way: The Unlikely Conversion of a Radical Scholar (Mary Poplin. the Well*)
- Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service (Mary Poplin. InterVarsity Press. 2008). I’ve been part of an adult Sunday school class at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ examining this book and we look forward to Mary’s visit to the church as part of the Christian Scholar Series (a local partnership with the Emerging Scholar Network). Watch for an on-line book discussion based upon this material in a few months (Thank-you to Kevin for developing this material!). If you don’t have a copy of Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service, time to borrow or order one 🙂
- Veritas Forum Presentations, as the 2/25-26 presentations in Pittsburgh, PA are in partnership with the Veritas Forum.
In response to this material and in order to introduce Mary well, I asked her, “Why do you do what you do?” Below is Mary’s response:
My K-12 educational research work is focused on how to improve the education of poor urban students in the schools. I believe that the low test scores in urban poor schools are to some degree the result of poor teaching that has been unchallenged. My most recent work has been to understand highly effective teachers who work and succeed in these environments. Who they are and what do they do that is so successful?** [Read more…] about The Unlikely Conversion of a Radical Scholar