Infant teaches students respect in new bully prevention program

Bullying prevention and respect are two lessons taught in most elementary and middle schools around the world. However, it is never something that goes away. Mary Gordon, founder and educator of the Roots of Empathy program, claims that she has found a solution.

During a Roots of Empathy session, children between the ages of five and 12 take lessons from a newborn baby by interacting with them. An instructor asks the class why the infant is crying, why he or she is frustrated, why he or she is smiling, and what a student could do to solve the problem.

Roots of Empathy launched in Canada and has spread around the world to other parts of North America and Europe, including countries such as England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

The program increases emotional intelligence, understanding and empathy towards classmates, and less bullying and aggression between children and young adults. Gordon states that the mission of the sessions are, "to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults."

An instructor introduces a baby to a class at the beginning of the school year when the infant is two-four months old. Throughout the school year, students witness and become interested in the brain development of the baby from multiple sessions.

Research shows that 80% of students taking part in the Roots of Empathy program show an increase of peer acceptance. Every two in three students show an increase of pro-social behavior traits. Teachers see a drastic decrease in bullying levels as well.

Juliet Uzur, a fifth grade teacher, says that, “they [students] are more vocal about how they feel… we had one session talking about grief, and a boy who used to get really angry in class opened up. He shared with us that his grandfather had killed himself. The other children were very respectful. At this age, children can be quite selfish, but I see random little acts of kindness that they never used to show. They have become a bit more caring towards each other. It has been really nice.”

Roots of Empathy is a growingly popular program known to prevent bullying and promote respect. As one of the major stepping stones toward a bully free community, the program continues to make the world a kinder place.

Fifth grade students interact with Sienna, a newborn baby, in the Roots of Empathy program