Roots of Empathy
Roots of Empathy is a classroom based programme aimed at fostering empathy and reducing levels of bullying, aggression and violence amongst schoolchildren. It involves parents bringing babies into the classroom nine times over the course of a school year.
The programme allows students to observe the baby's development, celebrate milestones, and interact with the baby. Students also learn about the infant's needs and unique temperament. A Roots of Empathy instructor uses the supporting curriculum to work with the class the week before and the week after each family visit to prepare and reinforce pro-social behaviours.
Through the programme children learn about the development stages of a baby's first year, their needs, and how the baby communicates its needs to the parent. By observing the interaction between the parent and baby the children learn to understand others' feelings, to put names to those feelings and how to resolve problems.
The programme is currently delivered to Year Five and Six students (9-11 year olds) in 60 classrooms in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. It was developed in Canada and first trialled there in 1996. The Foundation for Peace Studies Aotearoa/New Zealand, known as the Peace Foundation, has undertaken the trial of the programme in New Zealand under licence from the Roots of Empathy organisation.
The Ministries of Social Development, Health and Education are jointly funding this programme with a total of $900,000 invested over three years ending December 2009.
An evaluation of ROE is currently underway. Final results from the evaluation will be available from early to mid 2009 and will inform a Cabinet report on Early Years due in June 2009. Early findings suggest that students in participating schools were reported to be more cooperative and sharing while demonstrating less anti-social behaviours such as breaking rules and bullying than in the comparison schools.
» For more information on the Roots of Empathy programme in New Zealand
» For more information about the Roots of Empathy programme in Canada
» For more information contact Polly O'Brien or call 04 978 4258.
