A program called Narrative 4 has been actively running across 600 high schools in America and in schools in 35 other countries. https://narrative4.com/ This program offers educators an opportunity to teach compassion and empathy and to help to develop strong student leaders in their schools.
The TODAY SHOW had a short clip about the program. Students from Floyd County High School in Kentucky met with students from University Heights High School in The Bronx. Students were paired with a new friend, not from their own school, and each one shared a significant story with the new friend. The listener then recounted the story - including the emotions of the story - to a large group, as if it were their own story. Two girls - Char from the Bronx, and Taylor from Kentucky shared their stories with each other. Taylor talked about the loss of her beloved grandfather from cancer, and Char talked about her close call with a medical emergence of a ruptured appendix. When each told the other's story to the large group, as if it were their own, great empathy was elicited from the group.
What lessons can students learn from sharing these stories? They teach both vulnerability and strength, and the students learn that even though their lives and where they live are different, they actually share many similarities. Students learn the importance of both giving and receiving support, and they learn that empathy is an important trait for a person to have and share. Author Colum McCann, a co-founder of Narrative 4, says that sharing stories helps students to recognize each other's common humanity.
Interestingly, some of the schools that participate in narrative 4 have noted better attendance and improved graduation rates. It seems that seeing each other with empathy has more than one benefit.
"Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another." Alfred Adler
To see the clip from THE TODAY SHOW, please click on this link:
https://www.today.com/video/inside-a-story-exchange-program-that-s-changing-lives-164402757802
Visit Dede's web page for complete details on her award-winning book, STUDENT TEACHING: THE INSIDE SCOOP FROM A MASTER TEACHER. Many colleges have made the book required reading. Signed copies are available www.dederittman.com Dede is also a national speaker on The Three C's for Classroom success: Confidence, communication, and Creativity; Avoiding Teacher burnout; and many other inspirational topics.
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