Children taking classes in empathy from babies – Danielle Batist, Contributoria

Mary Gordon‘s Roots of Empathy programme. A scheme which brings tiny babies into primary classrooms for children to learn from them:

In thousands of schools around the world, children between the ages of five and twelve take lessons from a new-born baby. The result? Increased emotional intelligence, understanding and empathy towards classmates, and less bullying and aggression. It looks like an ordinary Year 5 classroom in the Lucas Vale Primary School in the London borough of Lewisham. Colourful posters and artwork cover the walls and hang from the ceilings. A group of 10- and 11-year-olds talk and laugh as they get up from their desks. A woman walks in with a baby in her arms and immediately the chatter dies down. The children gather around a green blanket and burst into a welcome song: “Hello baby Sienna, how are you, how are you today?” via Crying for empathy: Babies as teachers in classrooms : June 2014 : Contributoria – the independent journalism network.
It’s a fantastic project and one that I hadn’t come across before. It’s such a good idea that you can’t help believing in it. But it seems all the more remarkable for the efforts that are being taken to scientifically assess its benefit. Related articles ]]>

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