Why Is Teaching Empathy Essential in Our Classrooms?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

How does teaching compassion to students equip them to tackle future challenges and adapt to new situations?

As educators, we often observe diverse forms of student behaviour within the classroom. One particularly noteworthy behaviour is when students support each other. For instance, when I asked a student, “Why are you not participating in class today? What is troubling you?” another student responded on her behalf, “Sir, she is not feeling well.” This spontaneous awareness of a peer’s emotional state exemplifies what is commonly referred to as empathy—the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others. However, the question arises: how can one truly comprehend another’s feelings? Is empathy an innate trait for some, or is it a skill that can and should be cultivated within the classroom?

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The Silent Crisis: Why Young Teachers Feel Discontent in Today’s Classrooms

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

A composite, real-life moment: it was a Thursday morning staff room at a mid-sized secondary school, the rattling of tea/coffee cups, a lesson planning meeting was on the go, and a cluster of early-career colleagues leaned against a counter. One of them, a bright, newly qualified teacher, scrolled through recruitment adverts on their phone and muttered, “Why am I doing this for that?” Another answered with a wry smile and a string of sarcasm about ‘team-building’ that meant yet another unpaid evening. A third rolled their eyes and said the work “would be fine if we all wanted to live at school.” The mood felt less like anger and more like a brittle, constant complaint: quick jabs, ironic comments, and an overall tone of pessimism that made it hard to plan long-term for the department. This is a scene I’ve seen repeated across schools not a single scandal or headline, but dozens of small, corrosive interactions that together shape a school’s culture.

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Self-Disgust And Borderline Personality Disorder Among Teens

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

New Research Highlights Self-Dissatisfaction in Adolescents as A Possible Precursor To BPD

Recently, I had a conversation with a former student who is now in her second year of medical school. She shared her career goals, which seemed promising, but then her mood shifted. She expressed ongoing dissatisfaction with her life and self, saying things like, “I don’t like how I am or how my life is going… It’s not what I expect… nobody understands me… I messed up my life… in fact, I have no life.” I listened patiently and tried to calm her as she opened up. This encounter left me reflecting on why self-dissatisfaction develops and how it affects lives.

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Why Do Children Need Encouragement to Become Original Thinkers?

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Researchers emphasise that originality is essential for children in all life fields, particularly in times of distress. Last week, a student waited after class and spontaneously asked, “Do I have a unique mind?” I paused before gently asking what prompted her question. She thoughtfully replied, “Sir, I think I am a good student,” rolling her eyes, “but do I have the kind of mind that can generate new and unique ideas? Or am I destined to spend my life listening to what other creative people say?” I reassured her, “There is no need to worry. Everyone feels this way sometimes. I even feel that my thoughts are copied occasionally, and that is perfectly normal. It does not diminish anyone’s value.” She smiled, and after further talk, we ended our meeting. This conversation, however, left me considering: Does originality truly matter when valuing ourselves or others?

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Student Burnout – Academic Pressure Causes High-Level Anxiety

Posted on by Ahmad Amirali

Parents Beware: “If You Are Not Ahead, You Are Behind” Is Not a Healthy Mental Strategy

Today, high school is more challenging for students than ever before. The constant pressure to excel academically, participate in extracurricular activities, and prepare for the future often leaves students overwhelmed. Recently, at a parent orientation, a story was shared that highlights this struggle: a student who had fallen behind on several projects because of pending physics assignments. She still lagged behind despite giving up her summer holidays to catch up. This chaotic academic pressure affected her social life she became less engaged with family and friends and suffered from irregular sleep and anxiety attacks over minor issues. Despite these warning signs, her parents insisted on extra evening tuitions, hoping she could keep up with the class. Unfortunately, cases like hers are increasingly common, and they showcase a worrying trend—students feeling burnt out, exhausted, and unable to enjoy learning or life.

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