Chapter 5: Art as a Path to Empathy: Creating Compassionate Learners

In 2014–15, Julie taught a reading intervention class for sophomores. Students were often frustrated by their reading challenges and disappointed at losing an elective for a mandatory reading class. However, when students analyzed texts like TIME magazine’s “Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer” (Paul, 2013) and Roman Krznaric’s TED Talk “How to start an empathy revolution” (Tedx Talks, 2014), the class transformed as students began to explore empathy and diverse perspectives.

That same year Heather began her fellowship with the ARTeacher program, exploring various arts integration strategies such as tableau, readers theatre, mixed media, and photography. Julie joined the ARTeacher fellowship the following year, thus strengthening the curriculum’s increasing focus on art and empathy.