Building the Empathy Movement in Schools: Reclaiming Human Connection in Educational Spaces
Speaker: Cait Kamins (15 min)
Bio: Cait Kamins is the founder of The CoMethod, co-creator of Full Circle, and a national leader in independent school communities--she brings sixteen years of experience in social-emotional learning, school culture, and educator development. (LinkedIn) (Facebook) (Website)
Topic: Building the Empathy Movement in Schools: Reclaiming Human Connection in Educational Spaces
Abstract: What would it take for empathy to become a true cornerstone of global education, not just a classroom practice or buzzword? This session considers how schools can move beyond isolated programs to create environments where empathy is woven into the fabric of teaching and leadership. By focusing on the needs and strengths of educators, the empathy movement becomes both scalable and sustaining.
https://otter.ai/u/2m9tbv4hOB3bWEKc7__7YdFYr6s?view=summary
Cait Kamins discussed the importance of building an empathy movement in schools, emphasizing the need for structural and student support. She highlighted the necessity for teachers to experience empathy themselves and criticized the current U.S. social-emotional landscape, contrasting it with more holistic approaches in countries like Australia. Kamins stressed the importance of inclusive programming that extends beyond isolated sessions and includes all school staff and parents. She also addressed the challenges teachers face, including low pay, political pressures, and the impact of technology on students' brains, advocating for better funding, higher pay, and political support for educators.
[ ] Fund safety measures to ensure teachers are not afraid of being shot in their classrooms.
[ ] Show respect for teachers and advocate for them in all spaces.
[ ] Grow the pipeline of qualified teachers.
[ ] Raise teacher pay to attract and retain qualified talent.
[ ] Keep politics out of classrooms, except for protecting human rights.
[ ] Support well-being for both students and adults, including making housing more affordable in expensive areas.
[ ] Protect teacher time so they have opportunities to rest, recover, and become more empathetic.
Speaker 1 introduces Kate Kamins, highlighting her experience in social emotional learning, school culture, and education development.
Speaker 2 begins by emphasizing the importance of shaping the next generation with empathy, noting the holistic nature of the discussion.
The talk is divided into two parts: structural support and student support, with empathy framed as a human right.
Speaker 2 stresses the need for teachers to experience empathy themselves to effectively teach it to students.
Speaker 2 discusses the limitations of current social emotional programs in the U.S., contrasting it with more holistic approaches in countries like Australia and northern Europe.
Emphasizes the need for inclusive programming that extends beyond standalone sessions and includes all school staff, parents, and caretakers.
Highlights the importance of continuous, integrated empathy programming rather than isolated sessions.
Mentions the effectiveness of programs like empathy circles but stresses the need for addressing negative experiences as well.
Speaker 2 addresses the conversation around teacher quality, noting that the pipeline for teachers remains consistent despite challenges during the pandemic.
New teachers' academic caliber is improving, but licensing tests can be a barrier.
Emphasizes the multi-dimensional nature of teacher quality and the challenges teachers face, including risks of school shootings, identity harassment, and political pressure.
Highlights the importance of supporting teachers to create a supportive environment for students.
Speaker 2 discusses the critical role teachers play in creating empathetic environments, noting that teachers often face significant personal and professional risks.
Emphasizes the need for political advocacy to support teachers and schools.
Highlights the importance of teachers' emotional well-being in creating empathetic classrooms.
Calls for political capital and donation dollars to support teachers and schools.
Speaker 2 discusses the negative impact of technology on students' ability to connect and develop empathy.
Highlights the importance of reducing screen time for students to allow their brains to wire properly.
Explains the negative effects of high-stimulation, fast-feedback content on students' neural pathways.
Emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to technology use in education.
Speaker 2 calls for funding safety measures to reduce teachers' fear of school shootings.
Advocates for raising teacher pay to attract and retain qualified educators.
Emphasizes the need to protect teacher time to allow for repair and recovery.
Calls for keeping politics out of classrooms and showing respect for teachers in all conversations.
Speaker 2 encourages personal actions, such as staying local in political communities and keeping kids off screens.
Emphasizes the importance of supporting students' well-being and mental health.
Calls for collective action to create a supportive environment for teachers and students.
Highlights the need for holistic change to support empathy in schools.
Speaker 1 thanks Speaker 2 for the presentation and emphasizes the need for more social emotional modeling across generations.
Quotes a mentor who says, "Children who learn to ride the waves of emotions become adults who don't drown in them."
Encourages the audience to take action and support empathy in schools and communities.
Emphasizes the importance of less blame and more action in creating a supportive environment for the next generation.