The Importance of Compassionate Classrooms in Education

Compassion in Education

I believe that emotions have a great impact on our daily lives. Considering their role in the process of teaching and learning, as the goal of education is to chisel out humans who benefit society, keeping classrooms devoid of compassion is simply out of the question. Hence, schools are more important in cultivating the critical social, emotional, and ethical qualities needed to lead meaningful and successful lives, in addition to academic understanding. For this, Jazaieri, 2018, discusses the importance of compassion in school life, "In general, compassion can be considered to be a multidimensional state rather than a singular construct." Also, some other authors have suggested that compassion has �two main components: the affective feeling of caring for one who is suffering, and the motivation to relieve suffering� and has described compassion as �the heart�s response to sorrow� (Kornfield, 1993). Thus, the aim of this paper is to study and provide some insight that compassionate classrooms are not a place that lacks academic progress, but an environment that prioritizes students and their voices.

Compassionate classrooms are integrally important in the development of future leaders for they offer students the opportunity of making their own choices. Only recently have policymakers and organizations begun to recognize the importance of emotions and social skills in a well-rounded education (Halifax, 2012) as cited in (Jazaieri, 2018). This is largely based on mounting evidence that socio-emotional abilities improve academic outcomes and well-being.

In my tenure as a primary school teacher in India, I stumbled upon the idea that emotions are ingrained in us and a natural tendency of humans is to connect. Children do not understand social differentiation principles and there is innocence in the connections that they make. But where do we lose this innocence in the growing-up process? This is the question that seemed to stir my curiosity. Moreover, in my opinion, many of the issues in society arise from a lack of ability to care for one another, to understand one another, to accept that we all have different points of view, and to empathize with one another's predicament.

Being an educator, I think that lectures and lessons are constructive parts of the classroom, but their key purpose on why they exist diminishes when visualized in the context of the larger picture. Also, it is necessary that students can read, write, and think critically because these intellectual qualities will facilitate them in making wise judgments, solving problems, and achieving their objectives in life. Hence, simple gestures of compassion in the classroom are a good place to start. In every gesture and word, the teacher should demonstrate compassion. Given the current demands and disappointments in public education, this is no minor task (Halifax, 2012) as cited in (Jazaieri, 2018). However, teachers should strive for this aim, knowing that students are always watching and observing their every action. Therefore, they need to model the kind of compassionate change they would want to see in their students.

The Role of Compassionate Classrooms

Taking Master of Education program at Thompson Rivers University, experience got from there dwelt much on compassion. I had an assignment that required me to watch a movie. The movie was about a 20-year-old protagonist who was struggling to find their gender identity. By the end of the movie, I was in deep sentiment on how insensitivity can make someone full of hatred. Also, while studying a course in curriculum, teaching and learning I have gained an insight that every child has a different need and teachers should plan the curriculum in ways that respond to those needs and interests.

I initially found it difficult to implement the inclusive education strategy in my classroom, so I began to research the meaning of inclusion as well as the elements that influence teachers' practical experience. I gradually realize that In my view, if I focus on building a compassionate classroom only then I can be mindful of the needs of every student. I also believe that� Furthermore, according to me, kindness and compassion are essential qualities that thatcan form healthy interpersonal relationships and contribute to the development of caring communities.

What good is it to educate a highly critical thinker who is unconcerned about others?

What good is it for a pupil to polish his or her literary and math skills if they can't put themselves in other people's shoes? Thus, in the classroom, I feel it is worthwhile to foster compassion in numerous ways. Overall, I know from discussions, interviews, and educational surveys, as well as my personal teaching experience, that the dread and excitement of waking compassion in my� profession are real. The opportunity and promise of responding with care to the real human� circumstances of those around me is the most satisfying component of my work throughout the� long term of my employment.

Noticing students' needs and responding compassionately isn't always a part of the job of teaching. Nonetheless, it is an unavoidable fact of the teaching profession. Children mirror and imitate the behaviors they observe in their environment. So, they will be instilled with similar values if their school culture prioritizes compassion, understanding, and cooperation. Keeping this in mind, compassion, kindness, and empathy should be developed at a young age in order to have a good social and emotional development. These positive human characteristics will help� children to make and keep friends, comprehend others' thoughts and behaviors, respond appropriately to others' feelings, and be emotionally connected to those around them.

Teachers play an important role in incorporating a compassionate environment that may not only improve the academic standing of the students but also strengthens their interpersonal as well as intrapersonal relationships so that they can make a positive contribution to the society. Therefore, I believe, tTeachers should cultivate a compassionate classroom which can positively impact the lives of the students. To justify, teachers play an important role in incorporating a compassionate environment that may not only improve the academic standing of the students but also strengthens their interpersonal as well as intrapersonal relationships so that they can make a positive contribution to the society. For this, To support my argument, I created have designed the following questions that will provide a pathway to my research study:

1. What is the significance of compassion in the context of education?
2. In what ways can educators incorporate compassionate practices in the classroom that may benefit students and society at the largest level?

Some of the significant benefits of compassion in education include:

1. Improved Student Learning: Compassionate teachers tend to create a learning environment that is conducive to student learning. When students feel that their teacher genuinely cares about them, they are more likely to engage in the learning process, ask questions, and take risks.

2. Positive Student-Teacher Relationships: Compassionate teachers build strong relationships with their students, which is vital for a positive learning experience. When students feel valued and respected, they are more likely to trust and respect their teachers, leading to more productive cl