Empathy Through Equality - This School Just Doesn't Get It

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/05/education/05empathy.html?pagewanted=1&em

There seems to be a liberal wave of empathy sweeping schools, and it's about time. This article describes how more and more public schools are now teaching empathy to their students through workshops, community service, school events, and encouragement from teachers. An interesting question here, although the author, Winnie Hu, does not emphasize it, is whether or not public schools should be permitted to teach certain character traits to its students. In my opinion, it is perfectly acceptable to try and make students "better people" by stressing empathy, but in this case, I don't think the school understands what exactly empathy entails.  

Winnie Hu uses a number of quotes from students, which supplements the subject nicely. Students say that the experience has made them more kind, and more aware of other people's struggles. One student says that he is now able to "step into someone else's shoes." 

I think this is great. A behavioral lesson of this sort can be very effective in ending America's bullying crisis, but as for "teaching" empathy, I don't see it. How can you "teach" empathy with a lecture? Or in a classroom with kids who aren't fully aware of the struggles of other Americans?

The schools that are employing this practice are predominately white, middle-class suburban schools. In most of these schools, the life struggles of these students do not vary nearly as much as their lower-class, urban counterparts. If these schools wanted to truly transform kids' ignorance, they wouldn't be keeping these kids in their same schools. When kids are simply trying to relate with their peers, it isn't that much of an accomplish. Sure you can reduce gossiping or fighting, but in order to preserve human rights, like the principal of the school says she is committed to, these kids have to be made aware of human rights issues besides students whose feelings were hurt when they weren't invited to a party. In my opinion, the author is caught up in the optimistic ideology of administration of this middle school, overestimating the drama that occurs at that school and all schools. 

Yes, it's great for kids get along, we all know how teenagers can be after all, but I don't think these schools should be praised for supporting "core values such as empathy, respect, responsibility and integrity" on such a small scale.