Teaching is Breaking Bread: Biblical Metaphor, Educational Vision, and Bernard's Evocation of Learning

Abstract

One of the basic ways of articulating normative visions of teaching and learning is through orienting metaphors that bid to orient our perceptions and actions. Teaching and learning may be presented in terms evoking gardening, coaching, guiding, parenting, filling containers, or any of a range of other educational metaphors, each of which generates a particular field of associations and expectations that color our view of educational processes. Some of these metaphors have theological roots and overtones, and may generate perceptions that draw together faith and educational processes. At the beginning of a famous series of sermons, 12th century theologian Bernard of Clairvaux speaks of teaching as breaking bread, a metaphor arising in significant measure from his intimate familiarity with the language of the Bible. This article explores the perceptions of teaching that may be evoked by Bernard's use of this metaphor and how this connection to biblical imagery evokes Christian intuitions about the teaching and learning process. This exploration is, however, not offered primarily as historiography or exegesis of Bernard. The purpose is to explore the practical question of how faith might come to inform teaching practice for present-day Christian educators.