In this Educational Leadership article, Jo Lein (Johns Hopkins University and Tula Public Schools) draws a distinction between empathy and compassion. Empathy, while good-hearted, can lead teachers to feel overwhelmed, anxious, and helpless as they share the emotional burden of students who have experienced trauma. Compassion for the same students involves an emotional connection followed by providing care to alleviate students’ suffering. Compassionate teachers are more likely to maintain their own emotional well-being and not burn out. Here are some examples:
- Empathy response: I feel your frustration. This experience is so hard for you. Compassionate response: I understand this is challenging. Let’s work on it together.
- Empathy response: I cannot believe you went through that. It is heartbreaking. Compassionate response: Thank you for sharing. I am here to support you through this.
- Empathy response: I cannot believe you would do that. It is so disappointing. Compassionate response: I see you are having a tough time. Let’s discuss what happened.
- Empathy response: I am so worried about you. This anxiety is affecting me, too. Compassionate response: I notice you’re feeling anxious. How can I help you manage it?
- Empathy response: Your poor grades upset me. I am disappointed. Compassionate response: Your grades do not define you. Let’s figure out how to improve them.
- Empathy response: Why don’t you care about this? It is frustrating for me. Compassionate response: I sense you are not engaged. Talk to me about that.
Please Note: This summary is reprinted with permission from issue #1027 of The Marshall Memo, an excellent resource for educators.
