Views on Teaching Compassion in School
Teaching compassion is an endeavor that schools sometimes begin in elementary grades. Students are encouraged to practice kindness and it is considered one of the themes for citizenship. The website Education World describes compassion as caring for other people and living things. Views on teaching compassion in the schools can vary by individual, family and geographic region.
Other People Are Reading
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Teaching Compassion Will Stop Bullying
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Bullying is a major problem in some schools. One approach to addressing bullying is to teach bullies about compassion and caring from a young age. The idea is that if a bully can understand a victim's feelings and care about the victim, he will stop the bullying behavior. The key to stopping bullying behavior through compassion is starting from a young age and working with children at home and school.
Understanding Others Prevents Prejudice
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Compassion is the teaching of understanding the views of others. The main goal of many schools is not just stopping bullying, but also stopping or minimizing prejudice as well. Compassion does not discriminate against others for any reason and requires care for all. The potential result of teaching compassion is preventing prejudice.
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School Teaching is Not Enough
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Teaching compassion starts at home rather than at school. Teaching in schools alone is not enough. Parents should teach children about compassion from a young age. In this way, the school acts as reinforcement to the compassion lessons taught at home. Parents should teach their children to show kindness to others and then the school gives lessons in compassion that reinforce those ideas. If the lessons in compassion are left up to the school, children can become bullies or victims because the lessons are not followed through in the home.
Empathy and Compassion
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The view that compassion alone is enough to prevent bullying is often seen as inadequate. Compassion is caring for others and treating them with kindness. Behavior needs to have empathy in order to eliminate bullying behavior. Empathy is the understanding of others feelings, which allows for compassion. If a bully is unable to understand the feelings of others, she is unable to act in a compassionate manner.
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References
- "Charlotte Observer"; First Step in Fighting Bullying is Teaching Compassion; Betsy Flager; Nov. 16, 2010
- Parent Map; Teaching Empathy; Kristen Dobson; Dec. 31, 2007
- Education World: Teaching Citizenship's Five Themes
- Divine Caroline: Miss. Lawson: Teaching Compassion; Laura Roe Stevens
- Bella Online; Tips to Teach Kids Compassion; Vannie Ryannes
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
