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Cherry
Hill Testimonials
Cherry
Hill Experiences - by Michael Reeder
(Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.)
 I'm
writing to recommend the Cherry Hill experience as well as
to discuss my specific impressions of the program.
I am enrolled as a continuing education student (i.e. -- I
take one class at a time, I'm not in a certificate program).
Also
-- I've only taken two classes from them, so others may have
more in-depth experience.
I
am interested in pastoral counseling. Cherry
Hill has several other tracks as well, including public ministry
and cultural studies. For
me, the Cherry Hill program has helped me determine how I
will counsel other seekers to define their faith practice
and how I explain Paganism and practice Paganism in public
settings (such as hospitals). For
example, my final project in M. Macha NightMare's "Call of
the Dark Mother" course (a death and dying course) was a slideshow
presentation for hospital chaplains on what Paganism is and
how to deal with Pagan patients.
I've
found both the staff and students to be bright and motivated.
A
look at the staff page will show an unusual collection (for
Paganism) of folks with masters and Ph.D. background, most
of whom are qualified to instruct at the traditional university
and graduate school level. Those
without the academic credentials are of course long-time priests
and priestesses with recognized deep Pagan community experience.
In
my two classes, I was one of only two novices in the Craft
(I've been involved for two years, plus a scattering of earlier
related experience). Most
of the students were themselves Pagan community leaders, with
5-20 years experience and at the head of groups that define
their local community efforts. Even
though my experience level lagged, I found that I was treated
as an equal. My
comments were considered with respect and the classes were
taught in such a way that people with all experience levels
could get something out of them. Listserv
discussions quickly turned to applied matters relating to
how instruction could benefit community work. Teachers
would often agree to coordinate with students offlist on various
projects.
The
attitude of both facility and students is one of openness
and inclusion. Several
Pagan faith traditions are represented in the student body.
Different
viewpoints were tolerated and discussed without personal conflicts.
Some
students think the subject matter is a bit weighted towards
Wiccan viewpoints, but all seem to agree there is an openness
to expanding the subject matter in the curriculum.
The
classes I have taken (spiritual counseling and death and dying
classes) deal with subject matter that mainstream programs
also have classes in. At
Cherry Hill, an effort is made to use Pagan-oriented textbooks.
When
such are not available, mainstream texts are used and are
supplemented with typed lectures and class discussions that
directly address Pagan differences in experience and viewpoint.
The
current faculty represent a core of dedicated folks who are
looking to grow Cherry Hill into an accredited Institution.
At
this time you get quality training, but only a certificate
from the school (not a master's degree). The
pastoral counseling program hopes to eventually become an
American Counseling Association (ACA) accredited school. In
other words, the emphasis will be on hardcore psychological
counseling techniques, with a Pagan twist, rather than focusing
on religion primarily.
IMHO this is exactly how to build a quality program.
The
negatives of the current state of the school are obvious.
No masters degree option, guinea pig status in new courses,
and all the courses needed for the certificates are not offered
yet.The
small class sizes (5-10 students at most) in my opinion indicate
that Cherry Hill needs to get the word out better in order
to keep the tuition checks coming -- or that enough Pagans
are not yet ready to get serious. The
benefits far outweigh these nits.
You get tiny class sizes with one-on-one instruction from
the top, most motivated elders in our religious movements.
The
authors of the textbooks that define each subject area teach
each class personally! That
"guinea pig" status means the teachers are 110% involved in
the successful tuning of the class -- no one is bored teaching
yet. The
classes are very well researched -- with extensive intelligent
reading lists, class assignments and homework projects, etc.
The
instructors are familiar with how their subjects are taught
in Abrahamic religions (the classes I have taken have such
parallels), so students emerge with an ability to compare/contrast
against established religion and hold their own in discussions
with the rest of the world.
For
$110 per class, how can you possibly go wrong? Classes
are provided via weekly typed lectures, Yahoo group discussion
listservs (participation required), and in some cases live
IRC chats at weekly scheduled class times. Some
people will say that in-person, classroom training is superior.
Fine.
Let
them pay $250-$550 per credit hour ($750-$1650) for what Cherry
Hill is offering for $110 -- and good luck finding a Pagan-oriented
version of the class, with instructors as motivated.
Most
people taking classes need the EDUCATION for their priesthood
-- so they don't care if there is no formal masters degree
yet.
Those needing a formal degree should be supplementing it with
Cherry Hill classes on the side.
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