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Empathy + Thinking = Wise Action

Most people consider empathy—the ability to share and understand the feelings of others —a good thing. Teachers often reach out to us at the Institute for Humane Education for help educating their students to be more empathetic. They recognize that academic education isn’t enough to produce healthy classrooms, let alone to prepare youth to be motivated and engaged citizens who…

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humane education interview series

Exploring the Future of Humane Education

In addition to being the founder of the Humane Education Committee and a leader in the comprehensive humane education movement, Megan is a colleague, friend, former IHE staff member, and student in our M.Ed. program. We are excited to feature this interview with her for our blog. IHE: You created the Humane Education Coalition (HEC)….

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becoming a solutionary

How Evolution Can Help Us Solve Problems: A Conversation with Michael Charles Tobias and Jane Gray Morrison

For my post today, I interviewed Michael Charles Tobias and Jane Gray Morrison about their book, The Hypothetical Species, and their vision of a path toward a restorative future. Michael and Jane run the Dancing Star Foundation, an ecological non-profit devoted to animal protection, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education. For over thirty years they have researched and analyzed…

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Blog: Kathleen Tate

I Am a Humane Educator: Kathleen Tate, Training the Next Generation of Educators

by Institute for Humane Education Kathleen J. Tate, Ph.D., is a professor and program director of teaching programs at American Public University System (APUS). She is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Online Learning Research and Practice, formerly known as the Internet Learning journal, published by Policy Studies Organization and the American Public University System. Kathleen…

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Blog: Creating the Space for Conversations

Creating the Space for Conversations With Young People About Compassion for Others

by Abby Power Can we have an open dialogue with our children and students about what is happening in the world today? I say yes! Children have an extraordinary capacity for critical thinking when given the opportunity to practice it. I have found that there are three main areas that help in creating a space…

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Blog Windows and Mirrors

Windows and Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors: Ensuring Students See Themselves and Others in Literature

by Cathy Potter In 1990, Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop published an essay about the importance of providing young readers with diverse books that reflect the “multicultural nature of the world” in which we live. In the essay, Dr. Bishop coined the phrase “Windows, Mirrors and Sliding Glass Doors” to explain how children see themselves in…

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A classroom of students and their teacher

Defining Your Purpose as a Teacher

by Zoe Weil At the beginning of the teachers’ workshops I lead, I often facilitate an activity that invites participants to reflect upon their true mission as educators. Their personal missions always differ from the US Department of Education’s, which is “to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and…

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Person throwing a box of food into a compost dumpster

17 Resources for Teaching About Food Waste

by Marsha Rakestraw “Every day, we’re teaching kids that food is trash.” ~ Jonathan Bloom Our school food systems in the US are not set up to minimize waste or encourage healthy habits. Students are often rushed at lunchtime, may have unappetizing food options, may be given (or take) much more food than they’ll eat,…

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people sitting in a circle outside playing a travel card game

I Am a Humane Educator: Vincie Ho: Promoting Compassion Education and Sustainable Travel

by Institute for Humane Education Vincie Ho is the co-founder of Mini Acts for the Greater Good (MAGG) and the creator of the sustainable travel card game Paths Crossing. She is also an advisor to the Humane Education Coalition and the co-lead for Impact Travel Alliance Hong Kong Chapter. She is “passionate about all issues related…

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