t every level the purpose of education is to form future citizens (local, state, or national). Regardless of the cultural differences that exist between countries, they all share the pursuit of creating citizens who are resilient, kind, aware, ethically discerning, engaged, able to engage in systems thinking, and compassionate. Schools and education can be transformed to prioritize the education of the heart and the mind. Education can serve as a vehicle for helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and behavioral traits that they need to foster personal wellbeing and to promote the wellbeing of others. The purpose of education is to create a society filled with citizens who can lead their nation or community into the future. This vision for society is one in which citizens demonstrate emotional regulation when they face adversity, understand how their actions affect themselves and others (both now and into the future), and are attuned to the personal and prosocial benefits of kindness, gratitude, empathy, and compassion.
In order to accomplish this shared vision for a peaceful and compassionate world we need to do one thing—prioritize the education of the heart and mind. Educating the heart and the mind ensures that all students develop the competencies that lead to awareness, compassion, and engagement. We also know that this is achievable because people of all ages around the world are taking steps to rewire the traits that constitute their brains. The brain has an amazing capacity to change and develop throughout our life span. Neuroplasticity enables us to shape and change our behavior towards ourselves and others. Just as we can grow our physical abilities through strength training, we can also grow our emotional and cognitive abilities to cultivate resilience and compassion. Numerous fields of research and scientific evidence have shown this to be the case. These fields have coalesced into an interdisciplinary field known as the ‘science of compassion.’
As individuals develop the capacity to promote a meaningful experience of wellbeing, they simultaneously engage in non-harm. Students can be taught through experiential learning to recognize the mutual interdependence that they share with others. This is achieved by having them expand their in-group association through the recognition of their shared humanity. On the basis of appreciating interdependence and recognizing common humanity, individuals can begin to understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others. The growth of ethical discernment through the training of the heart and mind allows for both the expression of non-harm and for compassion to arise naturally through everyday actions.
The cultivation of personal wellbeing can lead to far reaching societal transformation. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outline the ways in which society can transform to foster a sustainable and equitable future. Achieving each of the SDGs requires broad governmental commitment and personal action. The competencies developed through the education of the heart and mind correlate with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development as identified by SDG 4.7—which includes the promotion of human rights, gender equality, peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and the appreciation of cultural diversity. Schools must play a role in fostering personal transformation if we are to achieve these goals.
The aspiration to educate the heart and mind is becoming a reality through the global implementation of Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning). SEE Learning is both an educational framework and curriculum that builds competencies in students through insight activities, reflections, and engaging learning experiences that help students practice ethical discernment, awareness and attentional training, systems thinking, trauma and resilience-informed care, and compassionate responses. As a global program SEE Learning is being adapted into different cultural and linguistic contexts to meet the needs of educational institutions across the world. This freely accessible education program is based out of Emory University and has affiliates around the world. A growing community of global SEE Learning educators and practitioners are working to implement SEE Learning to support the education of the heart and mind. SEE Learning is empowering and giving voice to different stakeholder groups. Putting this vision for school transformation into action can create a more peaceful and compassionate world for all.
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Transforming Schooling by Educating the Heart and Mind
Photo by Markus Spiske via Unsplash.
September 30, 2022
In order to accomplish this shared vision for a peaceful and compassionate world we need to do one thing—prioritize the education of the heart and mind. The aspiration for this is becoming a reality through the global implementation of SEE learning, writes Ryder Delaloye.
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t every level the purpose of education is to form future citizens (local, state, or national). Regardless of the cultural differences that exist between countries, they all share the pursuit of creating citizens who are resilient, kind, aware, ethically discerning, engaged, able to engage in systems thinking, and compassionate. Schools and education can be transformed to prioritize the education of the heart and the mind. Education can serve as a vehicle for helping students develop the knowledge, skills, and behavioral traits that they need to foster personal wellbeing and to promote the wellbeing of others. The purpose of education is to create a society filled with citizens who can lead their nation or community into the future. This vision for society is one in which citizens demonstrate emotional regulation when they face adversity, understand how their actions affect themselves and others (both now and into the future), and are attuned to the personal and prosocial benefits of kindness, gratitude, empathy, and compassion.
In order to accomplish this shared vision for a peaceful and compassionate world we need to do one thing—prioritize the education of the heart and mind. Educating the heart and the mind ensures that all students develop the competencies that lead to awareness, compassion, and engagement. We also know that this is achievable because people of all ages around the world are taking steps to rewire the traits that constitute their brains. The brain has an amazing capacity to change and develop throughout our life span. Neuroplasticity enables us to shape and change our behavior towards ourselves and others. Just as we can grow our physical abilities through strength training, we can also grow our emotional and cognitive abilities to cultivate resilience and compassion. Numerous fields of research and scientific evidence have shown this to be the case. These fields have coalesced into an interdisciplinary field known as the ‘science of compassion.’
As individuals develop the capacity to promote a meaningful experience of wellbeing, they simultaneously engage in non-harm. Students can be taught through experiential learning to recognize the mutual interdependence that they share with others. This is achieved by having them expand their in-group association through the recognition of their shared humanity. On the basis of appreciating interdependence and recognizing common humanity, individuals can begin to understand the impact of their actions on themselves and others. The growth of ethical discernment through the training of the heart and mind allows for both the expression of non-harm and for compassion to arise naturally through everyday actions.
The cultivation of personal wellbeing can lead to far reaching societal transformation. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outline the ways in which society can transform to foster a sustainable and equitable future. Achieving each of the SDGs requires broad governmental commitment and personal action. The competencies developed through the education of the heart and mind correlate with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development as identified by SDG 4.7—which includes the promotion of human rights, gender equality, peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and the appreciation of cultural diversity. Schools must play a role in fostering personal transformation if we are to achieve these goals.
The aspiration to educate the heart and mind is becoming a reality through the global implementation of Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning). SEE Learning is both an educational framework and curriculum that builds competencies in students through insight activities, reflections, and engaging learning experiences that help students practice ethical discernment, awareness and attentional training, systems thinking, trauma and resilience-informed care, and compassionate responses. As a global program SEE Learning is being adapted into different cultural and linguistic contexts to meet the needs of educational institutions across the world. This freely accessible education program is based out of Emory University and has affiliates around the world. A growing community of global SEE Learning educators and practitioners are working to implement SEE Learning to support the education of the heart and mind. SEE Learning is empowering and giving voice to different stakeholder groups. Putting this vision for school transformation into action can create a more peaceful and compassionate world for all.
