June 2, 2009

Roots of Empathy Pilot Project Celebrates Successful First Year

KELOWNA, BC: Bringing a baby into a classroom instantly brings students in contact with vulnerability and genuine, unguarded emotions.  By interacting and observing, students learn about respect, inclusion and more, making the baby the youngest teacher in the world. 

Since September, three schools in School District No. 23 have been involved in this exciting pilot project called Roots of Empathy (ROE).  Feedback from local teachers, students and parents supports the evidence from countless classrooms across Canada and the world: ROE helps to reduce levels of aggression and bullying among children and raises social and emotional competence increasing empathy. 

At the heart of the program is a neighbourhood infant and parent who visit the classroom nine times over the school year.  A trained ROE instructor coaches students to observe the baby’s development and to identify the baby’s feelings.  In this program, the baby is the ‘teacher’ and a lever that the instructor uses to help students identify and reflect on their own feelings and the feelings of others.  The students complete lessons about child development and non-verbal communication, celebrate milestones and learn about the infant’s unique temperament.

“Our celebration on June 3rd marks a great first year for the Roots of Empathy program in our District,” says Norm Bradley, Director of Instruction.  “We piloted the program at South Rutland Elementary, Peter Greer Elementary and Quigley Elementary in Grade 1 classrooms.  The feedback so far has been very positive both from the school community and the parents who visit with their infants.  I’ve heard inspiring stories about dramatic changes in some of our students.  Their aggression has decreased as they have a chance to be nurturing and to see their feelings mirrored back to them by an infant.”

Although ROE was offered in Grade 1 classrooms, specialized curriculum from the ROE organization is available for Kindergarten, Grade 1-3, 4-6 and 7-8.  The curriculum includes Ministry-mandated material allowing ROE to easily be incorporated into the school year. 

ROE was launched in Toronto schools in 1996 and became a charitable not-for-profit organization in 2000.  The program is offered across Canada, in English and in French, in rural and urban communities including Aboriginal communities.  ROE is also being delivered in New Zealand, the U.S. and the Isle of Man.

A video about ROE is available online: www.rootsofempathy.org/roots_new_site/Video.html

Approved by the Superintendent and Norm Bradly on June 2, 2009

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For comments, please contact:

Norm Bradley, Director of Instruction, (250) 860-8888

Mike Roberts, Superintendent of Schools (250) 860-8888

For background information, please contact Lisa Harrison lharriso@sd23.bc.ca or 470-3284.