Empathy and Education

This week's essential question is, "Whose responsibility is it to teach students to be safe online?"

Our class focused on "cyberbullying", "sexting", and inappropriate behavior by students, educators, and others.  There are so many issues surrounding behavior on the internet and different modes of human interaction that it becomes overwhelming.  Kids can get themselves into trouble through thoughtless actions and they can cause irreparable harm to others without even realizing it.

The main thing I took from our discussion was this: Restrictions and punishments are poor tools for keeping kids safe.  The true answer to cruelty and carelessness lies in early and continuing education, and that education must include training in ethics and compassion, not just technological savvy.

This is (I believe) a part of elementary school curriculum, where we are taught how to take turns, share, and treat others well.  In high school (my area), however, it is a very controversial topic, and as someone who grew up as a member of a religious minority, I am certainly wary of "morality" being taught by schools.  Many argue that is beyond the scope of education, or at least public education, and I definitely see that point.  Yet it is clear that the content of our curriculum, and just as significantly what we leave out, sends a strong signal about our values. 

As a science teacher reflecting on all that science has wrought in the world, I wonder if we are being careful enough to teach students about how to judge and act as compassionate global citizens.  This goes beyond knowledge, beyond skills and higher-level problem solving abilities.  Some excellent scientists have been terrible people.  There are a great many things that are possible, even revolutionary; some could cause disasters, while others could prevent tragedies.  Science has been used to do amazing amounts of good while also making possible the instant murder of millions.  Science has increased our power, both to do good and to destroy.

It is similar when we examine the role that access to the internet has on students.  It gives then access and power.  As students move further into the virtual world, it becomes increasingly difficult to control and monitor with whom they interact. We need to send them out prepared to deal with everything they'll find and yet time is required to prepare them -- time we no longer have before they're out in the wide, wide world. 

Thanks for the photo found through creative commons.