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?
The Importance of Teaching Empathy in the Classroom
According to Bob Sornson, PhD, an award-winning educator and administrator with over thirty years of experience, “Empathy is the heart of a great classroom culture.” Through empathy, students learn to understand one another, fostering friendships based on trust and positive relationships. In addition, empathy enriches student-teacher interactions, enhancing the educational experience.
Moreover, empathy prepares students for future leadership roles in their communities. A study by the Centre for Creative Leadership indicates that empathy is positively correlated with job performance. Leaders who empathise effectively make their followers feel valued, which strengthens trust and group cohesion. Hence, teaching empathy is not only socially beneficial but essential for leadership development.
Challenges to Empathy Development
Despite educators’ best efforts to teach empathy, many students and young adults increasingly struggle to feel compassion for others. Tim Elmore, founder and president of Growing Leaders, identifies several contributing factors:
- Increasing screen time reduces empathy: Prolonged exposure to screens (computers, phones, and video devices) correlates with declines in students’ compassionate responses. Although the COVID-19 era necessitated increased digital connectivity, balancing screen time with in-person interactions remains vital. Parents play an important role in spending quality time with children, engaging with them about their routines and social experiences.
- Information overload: Students today encounter approximately 1,000 messages daily through texts, emails, and social media platforms. This saturation can overwhelm their capacity to process and prioritise meaningful emotional information. Educators should encourage students to critically evaluate and filter distractions to focus on what truly matters.
- Lack of consequence for unethical behaviour: Students may witness peers engaging in misconduct (e.g., cheating or other misdeeds) without apparent repercussions. Similarly, exposure to violence via the media might desensitise them emotionally. It is essential for educators and parents to hold children accountable, providing appropriate consequences to promote empathy and responsibility.
- Modelling pessimism and defensive attitudes: A generation of adults, wary of being victimised or deceived, may exhibit guarded attitudes that hinder empathy. Adults must model empathetic behaviours openly, discussing current events (such as school shootings or natural disasters) and sharing emotional reactions to foster compassion in young learners.
Resources for Teaching Empathy
Educators wishing to incorporate empathy training can utilise various freely available resources:
- Miranda McKearney and Sarah Mears recommend promoting empathy through reading in their article “Lost for Words? How Reading Can Teach Children Empathy.”
- Empathyed.org offers comprehensive lesson plans centred on empathy development.
- Ashoka provides diverse strategies for embedding empathy across educational contexts, along with a toolkit for increasing empathy within schools (PDF).
- Dr. Karyn Gordon imparts practical guidance in TEACH Magazine’s article “Creating Empathy and Gratitude in the Classroom.”
- Teaching Tolerance outlines various strategies to foster a positive classroom culture that embraces empathy.