Roots of Empathy
In about an hour, I will head out to my big meeting for Roots of Empathy. Over the summer, I took a course and became a Roots of Empathy instructor. It's a fantastic program that proactively eliminates bulling by teaching kids empathy.
Today's meeting is with the school principal - lovely woman who is totally on board with this program - two other instructors and the entire staff of teachers. It's a bit intimidating and I was really freaking out. Life has been really hectic and I've barely cracked open the books and research. Plus, one of the other instructors is a Martha Mom with FOUR children (but no job) and she's designated herself as my personal reminder service. So I get emails asking if I got my police check and have I opened my materials and have I done this thing or that thing. She's stressing me out!
When I remembered that I know all these teachers and that they are all wonderful, caring people who are dedicated to their jobs and communities and that I've done way scarier meetings in the past and come through fine, I relaxed. I don't teach my first class until after Thanksgiving, so there's tons of time!
And I can pat myself on the back that in spite of appearing to some to be a scattered, frantic person, I am the one that got this particular ball rolling. I'm the one that had the child who was bullied that everyone told that it couldn't be changed and that it was a right of passage of childhood. And I stood up and said no to bullying, found this program and got the school principal engaged and involved. She ran with the ball, true, but I gave it to her in the first place.
This is an awesome program and although I have doubts in myself about being able to deliver it as well as I would like, it's a step forward toward a better future of respect and empathic understanding and caring - both in the primary school and everywhere as these kids grow and interact with their community.
Wish me luck!
Today's meeting is with the school principal - lovely woman who is totally on board with this program - two other instructors and the entire staff of teachers. It's a bit intimidating and I was really freaking out. Life has been really hectic and I've barely cracked open the books and research. Plus, one of the other instructors is a Martha Mom with FOUR children (but no job) and she's designated herself as my personal reminder service. So I get emails asking if I got my police check and have I opened my materials and have I done this thing or that thing. She's stressing me out!
When I remembered that I know all these teachers and that they are all wonderful, caring people who are dedicated to their jobs and communities and that I've done way scarier meetings in the past and come through fine, I relaxed. I don't teach my first class until after Thanksgiving, so there's tons of time!
And I can pat myself on the back that in spite of appearing to some to be a scattered, frantic person, I am the one that got this particular ball rolling. I'm the one that had the child who was bullied that everyone told that it couldn't be changed and that it was a right of passage of childhood. And I stood up and said no to bullying, found this program and got the school principal engaged and involved. She ran with the ball, true, but I gave it to her in the first place.
This is an awesome program and although I have doubts in myself about being able to deliver it as well as I would like, it's a step forward toward a better future of respect and empathic understanding and caring - both in the primary school and everywhere as these kids grow and interact with their community.
Wish me luck!