Compassion

To show compassion is to show sympathy. A teacher should try to make every child feel comfortable and happy in the classroom. If a teacher shows compassion in his classroom with the intention of understanding and sympathizing with the children, he will ultimately be making a positive difference in the children's lives. The Dalai Lama said, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Therefore, by the teacher practicing compassion, the students should be happier. By making the students happier, the teacher is helping to improve the students' quality of life.
It is important for a teacher to be compassionate, but it is crucial for a teacher to teach students how to be compassionate toward others. One of the most important aspects of public school is that children are put into an environment in which they may learn social skills in situations that may not otherwise be available until later years. When a student learns to be compassionate for another student, not only does it allow both students to be happier, but it allows learning to take place. Compassion in a classroom can help provide three of the five levels on Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs of Learning: esteem, belongingness, and safety. Because the goal of education is that students learn, compassion in the classroom is essential.
I do not have any anecdotes about compassion in the classroom. I have never really had teachers that have had the need to show me a great deal of compassion. But, I was looking around on the internet and found this video, Children Full of Life. Though I do not see evidence of anything that may be part of any standard curriculum, I do see quite a bit of learning taking place. These students have learned to open up toward each other, relate to each other, and be supportive of each other. Now, the young girl who lost her father has learned that she can share how she feels and be accepted amongst her peers, an essential quality in order for learning to take place.