Stepping into the future of education, a novel approach comes from the corridors of classrooms where the stories of animals and the interconnectedness of life make young people’s minds more compassionate. This transformative journey was led by Drs. William Samuels and Nnenna Onuoha-Jackson from City University of New York City go beyond traditional education. Their pioneering work is part of a grand vision to bridge the cultural divide and cultivate a global spirit of kindness and compassion through education. The program partnered with the in-house nonprofit Actasia and in schools in eastern Chinese cities, marking a significant leap towards understanding the common language of empathy, beyond geographical and cultural barriers.
Shown in their pioneering research International Journal of Educational Research,PhD. Samuels and Onuoha-Jackson reveal the significant impact of Actasia’s “Caring for Life” program on cultivating empathy in young learners. The program is rooted in the spirit of humanitarian education, weaving the delicate interfaces of life’s interconnectedness with educational structures, aiming to enhance compassion and responsibility for animals, fellow citizens and the environment. As part of a broader research effort, from bustling cities in China and Pakistan to a wide variety of landscapes in North America, the study highlights the global commitment to redefining the paradigm of education.
Understanding others’ feelings and sharing these emotions is an important part of fostering prosocial behaviors, which is essential for harmonious interactions throughout life. Doctor’s job. Samuels and Onuoha-Jackson delve into the effectiveness of integrating stories about animals and the environment into school curriculum, an approach that promises to enhance children’s empathy growth. By embedding these narratives into the curriculum, the “Caring Life” program emphasizes our coexistence with the natural world, aiming to cultivate a generation that takes empathy as a guiding principle.
“The ability to understand and share the feelings of others is a huge hope for improving relationships around the world,” Dr. Samuel shared in a reflection on the wider impact of his research. He emphasized that the focus of this study is on cognition of empathy and emotion (“intellectual” and “emotional”), which illustrates a comprehensive approach taken to understand and cultivate the multifaceted nature of empathy from children of various cultural backgrounds.
The results of this randomized controlled study not only highlight a significant enhancement of empathy, but also help dialogue transcend cultural and geographical boundaries. Dr. Samuel pointed out the practical significance of their work and stated:[t]After content on animal and nature topics, school curriculum can effectively enhance the human-guided empathy of young students. “The statement resonates with the nature of their research, based on the belief that education can be a powerful channel for fostering global empathy and collaboration, especially when addressing pressing issues such as the climate crisis.
The implications of this study go beyond the walls of classrooms, suggesting a scalable and influential model for promoting empathy and caring behaviors worldwide. DRS research was conducted by demonstrating that participants had significantly improved empathy. Samuels and Onuoha-Jackson highlighted the potential of humanitarian education and contributed to the all-round development of children of all cultural backgrounds. Since empathy plays a key role in building strong relationships and maintaining social harmony, programs like “care for life” are a key step in cultivating and sympathetic feelings for future generations.
Journal Reference
William Ellery Samuels, Nnenna Onuoha-Jackson, “Learning Nursing: An Intra-School Humane Education Program Improves Emotional and Cognitive Empathy among Low Element Students”, Journal of International Education Research, Vol. 5, 2023, ISSN 26666-3740, ISSN 2666-3740, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedro.2023.100292
About the Author
Dr. William Samuels He is an assistant professor of research and biostatistics at Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing in New York City. He received his Ph.D. The University of Texas majors in Psychology and Experimental Psychology and its Master of Animals Study from the same animal. Before returning to academia, Dr. Samuel served as Director of Humanitarian Education at ASPCA. He remains very active in the animal welfare and animal assisted intervention communities, serving on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, and working with researchers and practitioners in Asia, South Asia, Europe and North America.
His research focuses on using careful measurements in field-based research to understand how kindness and compassion can be promoted, especially among children and adolescents, and how people can overcome adversity and thrive. Dr. Samuel mainly studies resilience through the perspective of administrative functions of disadvantaged adolescents. He investigates the development of prosociality and empathy through animal- and nature-based educational and service learning programs for children in various cultures.
