Can empathy be taught? Helen Riess, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard, said it can and she details how and why in her book, “The Empathy Effect.” While Riess’ book is new, the concept of teaching empathy – even at the elementary school level – is not.
This hour, we sit down with local education and nonprofit leaders to discuss how they are incorporating lessons of emotional intelligence in their work with students, and how empathy can play a role in modern day civic discourse. In studio:
- Sybil Prince, director of the Commons curriculum at the Harley School
- Shira May, executive director ofPartners in Restorative Initiatives
- Elizabeth Devaney, director of the Social and Emotional Learning Center at the Children’s Institute
